Few/a few/little/a little

Question

HalloDear teachers, I have a problem with few/a few, little/a little. I tried to read a lot of grammar on it, but still I confuse them. Please, explain me their difference and usage, and if it possible give me some examples using these few/a few, little/a little in sentences. Thank you in advanceRegardsNata

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Follow the links at

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Here are a few examples:

I need to take a few days off.

I need a little time off think.

The show was terrible, only a few people showed up.

I like a little bit of sugar in my coffee please.

Hope that helps.

Natalli. · Answer

Good evening

Thanks a lot CalifJim. It was useful. So, as far as I understood few and little (without the indefinite article "a") have negative elements in them.

E.g. There are few people in the classroom. (means-there is hardly anyone)

Am I right?

Thanks in advance

Natalli

Imantaghavi · Answer

Hi,

We use the determiner (a) little with singular(usually uncountable)words, and we use (a) few with plurals. Compare:

I have little interest in politics.

Few politicians are really honest.

We've got a little bacon and a few eggs.

There is difference between little and a little, and between few and a few. Without a, little and few usually have rather negative meanings.they may suggest 'not as much/many as one would like', 'not as much/many as expected',and similar ideas.

The average MP has little real power.

Few people can speak a foreign language perfectly.

A little and a few are more positive:their meaning is generally closer to some. They may suggest ideas like 'better than nothing' or 'more than expected'.

Would you like a little soup?

You don't need to go shopping. We've got a few potatoes and some steak.

Compare these:

-Cactuses need little water.(not much water)

Give the roses a little water every day.(not a lot,but some)

-His ideas are difficult, but few people understand them.

His ideas are difficult, but a few people understand them.

Hope that helps

Iman

CalifJim · Answer

Natalli.Thanks a lot CalifJim. It was useful. So, as far as I understood few and little (without the indefinite article "a") have negative elements in them.
E.g. There are few people in the classroom. (means-there is hardly anyone)
Am I right?

Yes. That's right. I believe you understand it.

CJ

Natalli. · Answer

Yes I did:)

Thanks again a lot

Regards

Nata

Natalli. · Answer

Hallo Iman

Yes, it helped a lot.

Thanks a lot

Regards

Nata

Natalli. · Answer

Hallo dear Anonymous,

Yes, it helped me:))

Thanks a lot

Regards

Nata

Ruslana · Answer

Hi Nata,

Since your native language is Russian, I've made a post in Russian for you:

Natalli. · Answer

Hi Ruslana again

Well again thanks, follow the link:)

Few/a few/little/a little

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