Few/a few in tag questions

Question

Can someone tell me if there is any difference between the usage of FEW(LITTLE) or A FEW(A LITTLE) in tag questions?
Examples:
1. They have little money, do they?
In the first example i suppose we should use DO as the meaning of LITTLE MONEY is negative.
Am I right if I make a conclusion that in the second example we should use DON"T?
2. They have a little money, don't they?

Peaceblinkfriend · Accepted Answer

Hi Olgaa

I got interested in the differences between 'a little' and 'little' as well and after some quick googling, this is what I turned up.

A few and a little express a positive idea. They indicate that something exists or is present.

Although she has been here only two weeks, she has already made a few friends.
This is a positive idea. She has made some friends.

I'm very pleased. I've been able to save a little money this month. This is a positive idea. I have saved some money instead of spending all of it.

Few and little give a negative idea; they indicate that something is largely absent.

I feel sorry for her. She has few friends.
Negative idea: She does not have many friends; she has almost no friends.

I have little money. I don't even have enough money to buy lunch.
Negative idea: I have almost no money.

Here is the http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/14408-when-do-we-use-few-few-little-little.html to it .

I'm not so sure about the question tag as I know in some cases both are correct, depending on what the speaker's intention is. However, I would say generally its 'don't they' for 'they have little money'. When I was learning about this, I used to think of them as 'they do have little money'. This way it becomes obvious that it should be 'don't they'. Though I am not sure if its a 'grammatical' way to think about it. Sorry.

PBF

Few/a few in tag questions

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions