Grammar Clinic: The REAL differences between FEW/A FEW & LITTLE/A LITTLE

The terms FEW and LITTLE can really be confusing.

Few is used with countable nouns (nouns that can be counted), such as coin(s) and animal(s).

Little is used with uncountable nouns (nouns that cannot be counted), such as milk, time, and money.

FEW vs. A FEW 

“Few” means “virtually none” or “almost zero”

There are few sweets left in the jar.

(We should be careful not to eat them too quickly because they are almost gone.)

“A few” means “some” or “a handful”. It connotes “not an overwhelmingly large number, but not an insignificantly small number either.”

We have a few minutes left in class.  Do you have any question? 

(We still have time so we should use it.)

LITTLE vs. A LITTLE 

Little emphasises the lack of something.

We have little money right now.  We should go out for dinner another time.

(We should be careful and use the money wisely because there is not much).

A little emphasises that something still remains, but it’s not enough.

There’s a little ice cream left; who will eat it?

(There’s not enough ice cream to save it or put it back in the freezer so it should be eaten.)