Cool MateRarely vs There are few who can
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Rarely
Top 2,000 (common)B1adverb
There are few who can
Top 2,000 (common)
| Rarely | There are few who can | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈreəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrerli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðeər ə ˈfjuː huː kən//🇺🇸 //ðɛr ɑr ˈfju hu kæn// |
| Meaning | not very often | Not many people are able to do something. |
| Example | I rarely go to the movies anymore since I prefer watching at home. | There are few who can play the piano as beautifully as she does. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | rarely seen, rarely happens, rarely visit | few people, few options, few opportunities |
| Antonyms | frequently, often, regularly | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'rare' — 'rarely' describes frequency, while 'rare' describes how uncommon something is., Using 'rarely' in affirmative sentences instead of negative ones — remember it implies infrequency., Incorrectly placing 'rarely' at the end of a sentence where it should be before the main verb. | Confusing 'few' with 'a few', which changes the meaning., Omitting 'who' leading to an incomplete phrase., Using 'there are' in past tense incorrectly. |
| Usage notes | Used in both spoken and written English. It’s appropriate for discussing habits or occurrences that happen infrequently. Avoid using in very formal contexts where a synonym like 'infrequently' might be more suitable. | Used to highlight a rare ability or quality. It's often used in both spoken and written English to emphasize exclusivity. |
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Frequently asked questions: Rarely vs There are few who can
What's the difference between Rarely and There are few who can?
Rarely: not very often There are few who can: Not many people are able to do something.
Can you show an example of each?
Rarely: I rarely go to the movies anymore since I prefer watching at home. There are few who can: There are few who can play the piano as beautifully as she does.
Can I use Rarely and There are few who can interchangeably?
Not always. Rarely and There are few who can are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.