Few vs. Little

A few means some. It has a positive meaning. It is used with countable nouns.Few means hardly any. It has a negative meaning. The few means not many, but all of them.

Compare

  • There were a few members present. (Some members were present.)
  • Few members attended the meeting. (Hardly any member attended the meeting.)
  • He lost the few friends he had. (Not many, but all of them)

Note that few is used with plural nouns.

A little, little and the little

Little is used with uncountable nouns. A little means some. It has a positive meaning. Little means hardly any. It has a negative meaning. The little means not much but all of that much.

  • Give me a little milk. (some milk.)
  • I have little money. (hardly any)
  • He drank off the little milk we had. (not much, but all of that much)

Manjusha Nambiar

Hi, I am Manjusha. This is my blog where I give English grammar lessons and worksheets.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.