A Few or A Little?
A few and a little mean a small amount that you have. The noun decides which one.
A FEW + COUNTABLE
I have a few questions about the homework.
You can count questions.
A LITTLE + UNCOUNTABLE
There's a little milk in the fridge.
You can't count milk.
A few + a plural noun. A little + a noun you can't count.
In everyday speech, people often say a bit (of): Can I have a bit of sugar?
TRY IT
- Question 1
"There are blank shops near my house."
The four forms
A FEW
a fewplural noun
a few eggs · a few people
A small number.
A LITTLE
a littleuncountable
a little water · a little help
A small amount.
FEW / LITTLE
few / littlenoun
few trees · little rain
No a: almost none.
QUITE A FEW
quite a fewplural noun
quite a few mistakes
Quite a lot.
No of after a few or a little: a little sugar, a few eggs.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"Add blank lemon juice to the fish."
When to use them
Short periods of time
I went to Đà Lạt for a few days last month.
You can count minutes, days and weeks.
Common phrases: a few minutes · a few weeks · a few years ago
Cooking
Add a little salt and stir.
Recipes often use a little.
Common phrases: a little pepper · a little oil · a little fish sauce
A Few or Few?
| WITH A | WITHOUT A | |
|---|---|---|
| Countable | He has a few friends in this city. | He has few friends in this city. |
| Uncountable | We have a little time. | We have little time. |
| Meaning | there is still some time, so relax | there is almost no time, so hurry |
Few and little sound formal. In everyday speech, people say not many and not much.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"Don't worry, there's blank petrol in the car. We can get to the next town."
Common mistakes
Incorrect:I only have a few money with me.
Correct:I only have a little money with me.
You can count coins, but not money: a little.
Incorrect:My sister has a little friends at her new school.
Correct:My sister has a few friends at her new school.
You can count friends: a few.
Incorrect:I bought a few apple for my mother.
Correct:I bought a few apples for my mother.
After a few, the noun is plural: apples.
Incorrect:Put a little of butter on the bread.
Correct:Put a little butter on the bread.
No of after a little.
Incorrect:Can we talk? I have few things to tell you.
Correct:Can we talk? I have a few things to tell you.
You have some things to say. Keep the a.
Incorrect:There were quite few people at the wedding.
Correct:There were quite a few people at the wedding.
Quite a few always has the a.
Quick check · 5 questions
Choose the right word:
Lan bought a few oranges at the market.
- A. a few — Correct
- B. a little
- C. much
Answer: A. a few
A little is for nouns you can't count, like oil.
Choose the correct phrase:
We waited for a few minutes at the bus stop.
- A. a few minutes — Correct
- B. a few minute
- C. a little minutes
Answer: A. a few minutes
Minutes needs its -s: a few minutes.
You want to say the shop had almost no customers. Choose the right word:
Few customers came to the shop yesterday.
- A. Few — Correct
- B. A few
Answer: A. Few
A few customers means some came. In conversation, people usually say Not many customers came yesterday.
Choose the right word:
There is little food in the fridge. We can't cook dinner tonight.
- A. little — Correct
- B. a little
Answer: A. little
A little would mean there is some food.
You want to say a lot of tourists come here. Choose the right phrase:
Quite a few tourists come here in the summer.
- A. Quite a few — Correct
- B. Quite few
- C. A quite few
Answer: A. Quite a few
It always has the a.
See whether it really stuck.
Start the quiz · 12 questions
