Few, A Few, Little and A Little helps you communicate about small quantities with positive or negative viewpoint. Start with the meaning, notice the pattern, and then use it in complete sentences.
By the end of this lesson, you can
- I can distinguish small sufficient and insufficient quantities.
- Recognise and build the form: few/a few + plural count; little/a little + uncountable.
- Use the pattern accurately in a meaningful sentence.
Meaning and use
Use Few, A Few, Little and A Little for small quantities with positive or negative viewpoint. Always read the whole situation before choosing the form: grammar expresses a meaning, not only a pattern.
I have a few close friends I can rely on.
'A few' means a small but positive number of countable friends.
Very few people understood the complex explanation.
'Few' emphasizes an insufficient number of countable people.
We have a little time before the train leaves, so relax.
'A little' means some usable amount of uncountable time.
few/a few + plural count; little/a little + uncountableKeep this pattern visible while you study the examples. Then cover it and rebuild one example from memory.
Key rules to notice
These rules explain why the form is correct. Focus on the subject, auxiliary, verb form, word order and time or meaning clues.
- 'A few' means a small but positive number of countable friends.
- 'Few' emphasizes an insufficient number of countable people.
- 'A little' means some usable amount of uncountable time.
- 'Little' emphasizes an insufficient amount of uncountable hope.
- Use 'a few' for a small positive number of countable questions.
Common mistakes
Not:I have few close friends I can rely on.
Use:I have a few close friends I can rely on.
'A few' means a small but positive number of countable friends.
Not:Very a few people understood the complex explanation.
Use:Very few people understood the complex explanation.
'Few' emphasizes an insufficient number of countable people.
Not:We have little time before the train leaves, so relax.
Use:We have a little time before the train leaves, so relax.
'A little' means some usable amount of uncountable time.
Check before you practise
Complete each sentence mentally, then reveal the answer.
There is ____ hope of finishing today.
little
'Little' emphasizes an insufficient amount of uncountable hope.
She asked ____ questions after the talk.
a few
Use 'a few' for a small positive number of countable questions.
The desert receives very ____ rain.
little
Use 'little' with the uncountable noun 'rain'.