article/ a a little chance

Question

1. I have a better chance for recovery.2. I have little chance for recovery.3. I have a little chance for recovery.4. I have a a little chance for recovery.Q)  We say "a better chance" just like #1, right?I know #4 is wrong but I have no idea why we say "a better chance" when we don't say "a a little chance" just like #4. Could someone explain why?

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

Why on earth would you want to put the indefinite article twice?

CalifJim · Answer

moon7296I know #4 is wrong but I have no idea why we say "a better chance" when we don't say "a a little chance" just like #4. Could someone explain why?

It seems that you're take "a little" and "better" as having the same function in some way or another, so you think it would be logical to use "a little" wherever you can use "better", even after "a". I'm completely clueless as to what makes you think that. You must be looking at the grammar in a way that I'm not seeing. Unfortunately, I don't have enough insight into your thinking process to be able to explain this.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

moon7296I know #4 is wrong but I have no idea why we say "a better chance" when we don't say "a a little chance" just like #4. Could someone explain why?

Aha! After thinking about it, I think I know what you mean.

Countable 'chance' - a chance
a chance ~ an opportunity (countable nouns)
a better chance ~ a better opportunity ~ a chance/opportunity of greater quality
a little chance ~ a small chance ~ a little opportunity ~ a small opportunity
(expresses size (e.g., a little table);"a" and "little" are separate; "a" goes with "chance", not with "little")

Uncountable 'chance'
chance ~ probability ~ likelihood
little chance ~ little probability ~ little likelihood ("little" gives the amount; "not much")
a little chance ("a little" gives the amount; "some"; "a" and "little" go together as a unit)

With uncountable nouns, you can have "a little" to indicate amount. a little sugar; a little wine; a little meat
With countable nouns, "a little" does not indicate amount. When you say "I think I'll buy a little table", you don't mean 'a small amount of table'; you mean 'a table that is not large'.

The problem in your example is that 'chance' can be used as both countable and uncountable. But in any case, you can't have one "a" to indicate countability and another "a" in "a little", which indicates uncountability. It's contradictory.

CJ

Moon7296 · Answer

It was hard to put my thoughts in words.

Wow. I was amazed at your fabulous explanation. You nailed my point.

I was exactly wondering what you pointed out.
I overlooked the fact that a little with countable nouns "does not indicate amount"

CalifJimyou can't have one "a" to indicate countability and another "a" in "a little", which indicates uncountability. It's contradictory.

Therefore, we can't say like my example sentence #4.

I appreciate your help.

article/ a a little chance

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions