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Mowgli Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

few and sugar, some and a little/a few

Hello,

I know I shoul use (a) little with uncountable nouns.

1) However, I want to make sure I really cannot say this:

I have (a) few sugar. (I know (a) few friends is OK.)

2) Is there any difference in the meaning of some and a little/a few.

for example:

1) I have some friends / a few friends.

2) I have some sugar/ a little sugar.

Thank you Mowgli
  

Top answer

Hi Mowgli. 1) No you can't say you have 'a few sugar' or 'few sugar'. The individual grains of sugar are countable though so I guess you could say 'I have a few grains of sugar' or you could have a few sugar cubes perhaps?

— Nona the brit

  • Hi Mowgli.
  • 1) No you can't say you have 'a few sugar' or 'few sugar'.
  • The individual grains of sugar are countable though so I guess you could say 'I have a few grains of sugar' or you could have a few sugar cubes perhaps?
  • Sugar as a substance, though, is uncountable.
  • 2) Some is less specific about amount in these examples.
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1 Answers
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Hi Mowgli.

1) No you can't say you have 'a few sugar' or 'few sugar'. The individual grains of sugar are countable though so I guess you could say 'I have a few grains of sugar' or you could have a few sugar cubes perhaps? Sugar as a substance, though, is uncountable.

2) Some is less specific about amount in these examples. It could actually be quite a lot or not really specify t
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