A Little / A Few - Little / Few
A Little / A Few :
The expressions A Little / A Few mean some or enough.
Ex :
- "I have got a little money" = I have got some money. It's enough for me to do what I want.
- "I have got a few friends" = I have got some or enough friends. We meet every day.
The expressions (very) little and (very) few mean hardly any or not enough.
Ex :
- I have got (very) little money = I have got hardly any. I haven't got enough. I'll borrow some from my friend.
- I have got (very) few friends = I have got hardly any. I haven't got enough. I need to make new friends.
Have a look at the
following example table for a clear understanding of a little / a few and very
little and very few.
Example
|
Meaning
|
I've got a little money.
I'm going to pay the exam fee.
|
some/enough
|
I've got a few friends.
We meet everyday.
|
|
I've got (very) little money.
I need to borrow some
to pay the exam fee.
|
hardly any / not enough
|
I've got (very) few friends.
I need to make new friends.
|
Now we shall discuss
some rules :- Affirmative sentences :
- A little, a few, (very) little and (very) few are generally used in affirmative statements, not negatives or questions.
- Countable and uncountable nouns :
- A little and (very) little are used with uncountable nouns (money, bread, water...)
- A few and (very) few are used with countable nouns (friends, tables, teachers..)
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