a little goes with uncountable nouns and a few with plurals; both mean some, but not much or many. Without a, little and few mean almost none, so a little and a few sound positive while little and few sound negative.
A little + uncountable, few + plural
(a) little + uncountable noun: a little water, a little money, a little time.
(a) few + plural noun: a few books, a few questions, a few days.
- Add a little salt.
- We've got a few minutes before the train leaves.
B a little, a few = some
a little = some, but not much.
a few = some, but not many.
- She didn't feel like eating, but she drank a little tea.
- I speak a little German. (= some German, but not much)
- "Do you speak German?" "A little."
- I sent a few messages last night.
- We're staying with friends for a few days.
- I know a few words of Polish.
- "Are there any cafés in the village?" "Yes, a few."
C little, few = almost none
Without a, little = almost nothing, and few = almost none.
You often hear very little and very few.
- There was little petrol in the tank. The warning light was on.
- My grandfather eats very little these days. (= almost nothing)
- There were few people on the beach. It was almost deserted.
- Your spelling is excellent. You make very few mistakes.
D Positive or negative
a little / a few is a positive idea: there is some.
little / few is a negative idea: there is hardly any.
- They've got a little money, so they're managing. (= they have some)
- They've got little money. They're struggling. (= almost none)
- I've got a few good friends, so I'm never lonely. (= some friends)
- I've just moved here and I've got few friends. (= almost none)
Exercises
84.1 Answer the questions with a little or a few.
a littlea few
"Have you got any cash?" "Yes, a little."
"Have you got any cash?" "Yes, a little."
"Have you got any stamps?" "Yes, ."
"Have you got any stamps?" "Yes, a few."
"Do you want milk in your tea?" "Yes, , please."
"Do you want milk in your tea?" "Yes, a little, please."
"Did you buy any souvenirs on holiday?" "Yes, ."
"Did you buy any souvenirs on holiday?" "Yes, a few."
"Does your brother speak French?" "Yes, ."
"Does your brother speak French?" "Yes, a little."
"Are there any museums in this town?" "Yes, ."
"Are there any museums in this town?" "Yes, a few."
84.2 Put in a little or a few + one of these words: air, chairs, days, friends, messages, milk, Japanese, times.
airchairsdaysfriendsmessagesmilkJapanesetimes
Last night I sent a few messages to my family.
Last night I sent a few messages to my family.
Could I have in my tea, please?
Could I have a little milk in my tea, please?
"When did Ben leave?" " ago."
"When did Ben leave?" "A few days ago."
"Can you speak any other languages?" "I can speak ."
"Can you speak any other languages?" "I can speak a little Japanese."
"Are you going to the gig on your own?" "No, I'm going with ."
"Are you going to the gig on your own?" "No, I'm going with a few friends."
"Have you ever been to Dublin?" "Yes, ."
"Have you ever been to Dublin?" "Yes, a few times."
The waiting room was nearly bare. There was just a desk and .
The waiting room was nearly bare. There was just a desk and a few chairs.
It's stuffy in here. I'm going outside for fresh .
It's stuffy in here. I'm going outside for a little fresh air.
84.3 Complete the sentences. Use very little or very few + one of these words: coffee, shops, mistakes, people, rain, time, work.
coffeeshopsmistakespeopleraintimework
Your spelling is excellent. You make very few mistakes.
Your spelling is excellent. You make very few mistakes.
I drink . It keeps me awake.
I drink very little coffee. It keeps me awake.
The summers here are very dry. There's .
The summers here are very dry. There's very little rain.
It's hard to buy anything in this village. There are .
It's hard to buy anything in this village. There are very few shops.
We need to get a move on. We've got .
We need to get a move on. We've got very little time.
The town is dead at night. go out.
The town is dead at night. Very few people go out.
Some of my colleagues are really idle. They do .
Some of my colleagues are really idle. They do very little work.
84.4 Put in little / a little / few / a few.
littlea littlefewa few
There was little petrol in the tank. The warning light was on.
There was little petrol in the tank. The warning light was on.
"When did Amir go out?" " minutes ago."
"When did Amir go out?" "A few minutes ago."
I can't give you an answer yet. I need time to think it over.
I can't give you an answer yet. I need a little time to think it over.
There was traffic, so we got there earlier than we planned.
There was little traffic, so we got there earlier than we planned.
The trains are terrible on Sundays. There are trains after six o'clock.
The trains are terrible on Sundays. There are few trains after six o'clock.
"Would you like some cake?" "Yes, , please."
"Would you like some cake?" "Yes, a little, please."
I'd like to speak more Spanish, but I have chance to practise.
I'd like to speak more Spanish, but I have little chance to practise.
84.5 Right or wrong? Correct the sentences where necessary. Write OK if the sentence is correct.
We're going to the coast for few days next month.
We're going to the coast for a few days next month.
We're going to the coast for a few days next month.
We all need little help sometimes.
We all need a little help sometimes.
Sorry, I'm in a rush. I've got few errands to run.
Sorry, I'm in a rush. I've got a few errands to run.
I eat very little sugar. I'm trying to cut down.
I eat very little sugar. I'm trying to cut down.
Excuse me, could I ask you few questions?
Excuse me, could I ask you a few questions?
There were little people at the match. The stadium was nearly empty.
There were few people at the match. The stadium was nearly empty.