(1) quite a few, a good few, not a few, a considerable number of, a good many, many a这些短语意思相同，都是“相当多的，很多的”。quite a few, not a few是间接肯定，后接可数名词复数。

quite a little, quite a good deal (of)也是“相当多，很多”的意思，用于修饰不可数名词。

• He has read quite a few/a good few/a good many books in the subject.
  他阅读了许多有关这个论题的书籍。
• I learned quite a little/quite a good deal in the country.
  我在乡下学到了许多东西。
• He went away and was gone quite a little while.
  他走了，而且走了好一会了。
• Cleaning the kitchen still needs quite a good deal of work.
  清扫厨房仍然需要做很多工作。

 (2) a considerable number of=a large number of。many a要接名词单数，作主语时，谓语用单数。a great many, a good many后接复数名词，作主语时谓语动词用复数。

• Many a ship has been wrecked on those rocks.
  很多船在那些岩石上撞毁了。
• I've been there many (and many) a time.
  我到过那里许多次。
• We have a great/good many books in the next room.
  我们在隔壁有许多书。