a few + plural countable nounUse this for a small number of countable things when the meaning is some and enough.
Few and Little
B1A few and a little mean some. Few and little mean almost none or not enough. Use few with countable plural nouns and little with uncountable nouns.
What you'll learn
- Use a few with plural countable nouns to mean some.
- Use a little with uncountable nouns to mean some.
- Use few with plural countable nouns to show almost none.
- Use little with uncountable nouns to show not enough.
- Notice how adding a changes the meaning from negative to positive.
Structure
a little + uncountable nounUse this for a small amount of something uncountable when the meaning is some and enough.
few + plural countable nounUse this for a very small number of countable things when the meaning is almost none or not enough.
little + uncountable nounUse this for a very small amount of something uncountable when the meaning is not enough.
Build a sentence
Meaning
Noun
a fewquestions
I have a few questions before the meeting.
questions is plural and countable, so use a few for a small but enough number.
When to use
Small but enough
Use a few or a little when the amount is small and still enough for your purpose. I have a few ideas. We have a little time.
Almost none
Use few or little when you want to show a problem: the amount is very small and not enough. Few people came. We have little time.
Check the noun
Plural countable noun? Choose few or a few. Uncountable noun? Choose little or a little.
Markers
timemoneywaterpeoplequestionschairs
Common mistakes
Wrong
Lisa bought little books for the class.
Correct
Lisa bought few books for the class.
Books are countable and plural, so use few, not little.
Wrong
Tom has few money this week.
Correct
Tom has little money this week.
Money is uncountable, so use little, not few.
Wrong
I have few questions, so I can stay longer.
Correct
I have a few questions, so I can stay longer.
Few means almost none. A few means some, which matches the idea of staying longer to ask them.
Wrong
We have little time, so let's discuss the last point too.
Correct
We have a little time, so let's discuss the last point too.
Little means not enough. A little means some and enough for one more point.
Wrong
There is few milk in the fridge.
Correct
There is a little milk in the fridge.
Milk is uncountable, so use little or a little, not few.
Wrong
I have few free minutes, so I can help you now.
Correct
I have a few free minutes, so I can help you now.
Without a, few sounds negative: almost none. With a, a few means some, so helping is possible.
Common misconceptions
❝ A few and few mean the same thing. The article does not matter. ❞
The article changes the meaning. A few = some. Few = almost none. The same contrast works with a little and little.
❝ Few is for small number and little is for small number too, so I can choose either one. ❞
Choose by noun type first: few for plural countable nouns, little for uncountable nouns.
Skills in this rule (6)
A_FEW_FOR_SOME_COUNTABLEw5Use a few with countable plural nouns to mean some
Use a few before plural countable nouns when the amount is small but enough for the situation. It gives a positive meaning: some, not zero.
A_LITTLE_FOR_SOME_UNCOUNTABLEw5Use a little with uncountable nouns to mean some
Use a little before uncountable nouns when the amount is small but enough. It means some and sounds positive.
FEW_FOR_NOT_ENOUGH_COUNTABLEw5Use few with countable plural nouns to show almost none
Use few before plural countable nouns when the number is very small and not enough. It gives a negative meaning.
LITTLE_FOR_NOT_ENOUGH_UNCOUNTABLEw5Use little with uncountable nouns to show not enough
Use little before uncountable nouns when the amount is very small and not enough. It gives a negative meaning.
CHOOSE_COUNTABLE_OR_UNCOUNTABLEw5Choose few for countable nouns and little for uncountable nouns
Look at the noun first. Use few or a few with plural countable nouns, and little or a little with uncountable nouns.
NOTICE_POSITIVE_OR_NEGATIVE_MEANINGw4Notice how a changes the meaning
A few and a little mean some and suggest enough. Few and little mean almost none and suggest a problem or lack.