Difference Between Few, A Few, Little and A Little with Examples
| Quantifier | Noun Type | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Few | Countable | Almost none (negative) | Few people came to the meeting. |
| A Few | Countable | Some, but not many (positive) | A few books are lying on the table. |
| Little | Uncountable | Almost none (negative) | Little water is left in the glass. |
| A Little | Uncountable | Some, but not much (positive) | A little sugar makes tea taste better. |
Difference Between Few, A Few, Little, and A Little
"Few" and "little" suggest an insufficient amount. They are mostly negative. "A few" and "a little" mean some is available. They are positive. Use "few/a few" with countable nouns, and "little/a little" with uncountable nouns.
Grammar Rules for Little, A Little, Few, and A Few
- Use "few" with countable nouns (pens, apples, students).
- Use "a few" with countable nouns when you mean some, but not many.
- Use "little" with uncountable nouns (water, money, time).
- Use "a little" with uncountable nouns for some amount, not much.
- "Few/little" = not enough. "A few/a little" = enough for some purpose.
Examples of Few, A Few, Little, and A Little in Sentences
- Few students passed the quiz. (Almost none passed.)
- A few students passed the quiz. (Some passed.)
- Little patience is shown these days. (Almost no patience.)
- A little patience can solve problems. (Some patience is enough.)
- She has few friends in this city. (Almost none.)
- She has a few friends she trusts. (Some friends.)
- We have little bread left. (Almost none.)
- We have a little bread for breakfast. (Some bread.)
When to Use Little, A Little, Few, and A Few
Use "few/a few" with things you can count, like books or cars. Use "little/a little" with things you cannot count, like milk or information. Choose the negative or positive form to show your attitude or meaning.
Fill in the Blanks Exercises (With Answers)
Practice the following; answers are given after the exercise.
- I have ____ time to finish the project. (little/a little)
- There are ____ apples in the basket. (few/a few)
- He made ____ mistakes in his test. (few/a few)
- We have ____ milk left. (little/a little)
- ____ students knew the answer. (Few/A few)
Answers:
- little
- a few
- a few
- a little
- Few
Multiple Choice Exercises
- We have ____ bread in the kitchen.
a) few b) little c) a few d) a little
Answer: b) little - She has ____ friends in the city.
a) little b) few c) a little d) a few
Answer: d) a few - ____ students attended the extra class, but it was enough.
a) Few b) A few c) Little d) A little
Answer: b) A few
Downloadable PDF: Little, A Little, Few, A Few Exercises
You can practise more on paper by downloading extra exercises with answers. Download the PDF from here.
Real-World Uses and Why This Topic Matters
Knowing "few," "a few," "little," and "a little" helps you express amounts clearly in school exams, spoken English, or competitive exams. At Vedantu, we make English grammar simple, so you can avoid confusion and score better in tests and writing tasks.
Links to Related Grammar Topics
- Determiners in English
- More About Quantifiers
- All English Grammar Notes
- Countable and Uncountable Nouns
- Class 10 Quantifier Exercises
In summary, "few/a few/little/a little" are important quantifiers in English grammar. Use them to show small amounts with countable or uncountable nouns. Correct use improves your clarity in English exams, speaking, and writing. With practice and clear examples, you can master this topic and avoid common errors.
FAQs on Few, A Few, Little, A Little: Rules, Differences & Exercises
1. What is the difference between "few," "a few," "little," and "a little" in English?
"Few," "a few," "little," and "a little" are quantifiers showing small amounts. Few and little mean almost none, expressing a negative connotation. A few and a little mean some, but not many or much, conveying a more positive sense. Few/a few modify countable nouns, while little/a little modify uncountable nouns.
2. Can you give examples using "few," "a few," "little," and "a little"?
Here are examples illustrating the usage of these quantifiers:
- Few students understood the complex grammar rule (negative connotation).
- A few students understood the complex grammar rule (positive connotation).
- Little time was left to finish the exercise (negative connotation).
- A little time was left to finish the exercise (positive connotation).
3. How do I know when to use "few" or "a few" and "little" or "a little"?
Use "few" or "a few" with countable nouns (things you can count). Use "little" or "a little" with uncountable nouns (things you can't count). The presence of "a" indicates a slightly positive quantity.
4. Are these quantifiers used with countable or uncountable nouns?
Yes, the usage is directly linked to noun type. "Few" and "a few" are used with countable nouns (e.g., apples, books, students). "Little" and "a little" are used with uncountable nouns (e.g., water, time, sugar).
5. What is the rule for a few, few, little, little?
The rule hinges on the noun type and the intended meaning. "Few" and "little" imply scarcity (almost none). "A few" and "a little" suggest a small but present quantity. Remember to pair "few/a few" with countable nouns and "little/a little" with uncountable nouns.
6. What is an example of a few, few, a little, little?
Here are examples demonstrating the usage of "few," "a few," "little," and "a little":
- Few people attended the meeting (negative).
- A few people attended the meeting (positive).
- Little progress was made (negative).
- A little progress was made (positive).
7. Where can I practice "few a few little a little" exercises with answers?
Numerous online resources and textbooks offer grammar exercises focusing on quantifiers. Search for "quantifiers exercises," "few a few little a little exercises with answers," or "countable and uncountable noun exercises" to find suitable practice materials. Many websites provide interactive grammar exercises with immediate feedback.
8. What are the 10 quantifiers?
While a definitive list of "10 quantifiers" isn't universally agreed upon, common examples include: many, much, a lot of, some, any, few, a few, little, a little, several. The specific quantifiers used depend on the context and the countable/uncountable nature of the noun.
9. Few, a few, little, a little difference?
The core difference lies in the quantity implied and the noun type. "Few" and "little" express smallness with a negative connotation (almost none), while "a few" and "a little" suggest a small but positive quantity. "Few/a few" work with countable nouns, and "little/a little" with uncountable nouns.
10. How to teach few a few little a little?
Effective teaching involves: 1. Clarifying the difference between countable and uncountable nouns. 2. Explaining the positive/negative connotations of "few/little" vs. "a few/a little." 3. Providing ample sentence examples and exercises. 4. Using visual aids like comparison tables to highlight the key distinctions. 5. Incorporating interactive activities to make learning engaging.
