Why This Topic Confuses Learners
The words few, a few, little, a little look very similar, but their meaning changes completely depending on the article “a.” Misusing them may turn a positive idea into a negative one. Let’s make this crystal clear.
Few vs A Few (Countable Nouns)
- Few = almost none (negative meaning).
- Few people came to the meeting. (almost nobody → negative)
- A few = some, but not many (positive meaning).
- A few people came to the meeting. (some came → positive)
👉 Think of few as “not enough” and a few as “enough to count.”
Little vs A Little (Uncountable Nouns)
- Little = almost nothing (negative meaning).
- We have little time left. (almost no time)
- A little = some, enough (positive meaning).
- We have a little time left. (enough time to do something)
👉 Little = “not enough,” a little = “better than nothing.”
Quick Table
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| few | almost none (negative) | Few students passed the exam. |
| a few | some (positive) | A few students passed the exam. |
| little | almost nothing (negative) | We had little water to drink. |
| a little | some (positive) | We had a little water left. |
Mini Quiz
- I have ___ friends in this city, so I feel lonely.
→ few - Don’t worry, we still have ___ money for the tickets.
→ a little - Only ___ students understood the problem.
→ few - She speaks ___ Spanish, enough to travel.
→ a little
Common Mistakes
❌ I have a little friends.
✔️ I have a few friends.
❌ There are little people in the park.
✔️ There are few people in the park.
❌ He has few money.
✔️ He has little money.
FAQ
Q: Can I use “a little” with countable nouns?
A: No. A little is only for uncountables (time, money, water). Use a few for countables.
Q: Are “few” and “a few” polite?
A: A few is neutral/positive. Few often sounds negative.
Q: What’s the difference between “only a few” and “few”?
A: Few = almost none (negative). Only a few = emphasizes small number, but not zero.
Final Tips
- Few/A few → countable nouns.
- Little/A little → uncountable nouns.
- Remember: the “a” makes it positive.
Explore More
Dive deeper into how small words change meaning in these articles:
👉 The Power of Doubt in Language Learning
👉 Why “a apples” Doesn’t Exist
Also, see our full English learning page for more guides.
© Author’s concept by Tymur Levitin — founder, director, and lead teacher of Levitin Language School (Start Language School by Tymur Levitin).