We use a few and a little to mean "not very much" or "not very many". Whether you use a few or a little depends on what type of noun you are describing.
For example, "A few people came to the party." We use a few with plural, countable nouns.
"There's a little coffee left, if you would like some." We use a little with uncountable nouns.
We can also use few and little (without "a") for a more negative meaning. For example, "there's little point in calling" (= there's not much point calling).
"Few people understand" (not many people understand), compared to "a few people understand" (some people understand).
In spoken English, we can also say not many, or only a few to mean "few" and "only a little" or "not much" to mean "little".
When we make comparisons, we use fewer for plural nouns and less for uncountable nouns.
For example, "There are fewer people here than last year" or "he drinks less coffee than I do".
31 comments on “Using Few / Little in English”
is right to say : few rain or a little rain
"A little rain" is correct.
It has a good explanation about the use of a few and a little. However, is it right to say " she uses few jewelry", or would it be correct to say "she uses little jewelry"?
She uses little jewellery. (Jewellery is an uncountable noun)
Or
She wears few pieces of jewellery.
With uncountable words like "jewellery" you can make them countable in meaning by using "a piece of" or "pieces of":
Can you give me some information? (Information in general)
Can you give me a piece of information? (Just one thing)
The problem is that it's rather difficult for me to understand whether a noun is countable or not. Jewellery for instance is countable for me. In other words I can count all my jewellery :) So I have to remember which noun is uncountable…
This is a good point! Sometimes you do have to learn which noun is uncountable, but there are a couple of guidelines:
a) If the noun is a concept word (like "life") they are uncountable unless you specify them in some way
b) If the noun is "mass" (i.e. not one distinct thing, but made up of a quantity of parts) it is uncountable. For example, "oil" is not one molecule, but many. "Jewellery" is another example of this: your jewellery collection is made up of many pieces.
Is it much people or many people, People is a group of persons right? I am confused.
"Many people" or "a lot of people".
Many people is the correct form. Since you're talking about a countable noun such as PEOPLE.
Ex: I saw six people in that car. I've never seen so MANY people inside a car at once until then.
But I still don't understand.. when do we put the
"a" article.
for example:
We had ______ snow last winter.
and the correct answer is "little"
but why is incorrect if I use "a little"?
You can also say "a little", and the difference is that "little" means "very little", while "a little" means "some".
answer this question,please and justify your answer:
few students answered the question
a few students answered the question
which question is hard?
The first question is hard. "Few" means "very few": maybe two or three students out of a class of twenty.
"A few" is more in quantity than "few": maybe five or six students out of a class of twenty.
What should I use here? Using an expression of quantity without a noun.
for example:
I'd like two vegetable curries, please.
Sorry, there______left.
OR
Can I have some chips with my hamburger?
Sorry, there ______.
I'm confused :S
Emi:: » In the first one, you can say "there isn't any left". In the second you can say "there aren't any left".
Can you help me?
I always used SEVERAL as a synonym for some, but never considered it as big or small quantity. Then I saw on an Exam that it can be used as a synonym for LOTS OF. Is it possible?
Thanks
Mari » I agree with you. Several is more than a few, but less than lots.
Can we say " Can you give me few pieces of information (uncountable) Instead of "Can…a pieces of information? Following the example of "She wears few pieces of jewellery"?
Is it true that I should use many + uncountable for negative statements and question & a lot of + uncountable for positive statements?
Use much + uncountable for negatives and questions:
I don't have much money.
Use a lot of + uncountable / countable for positives:
She has a lot of money.
There are a lot of people here.
No – we only use "few" to mean "very few" in positive sentences. In your example, I would say "Can you give me some information?"
What is correct? Fish and chips are good or Fish and chips is good.
I'd say "Fish and chips are good", but you might also hear "… is good" if you are referring to an option on a restaurant meal:
- What do you think? Fish and chips, or Chicken pie?
- Um, fish and chips is good.
(= is a good idea / choice)
HI
can we say i have ENOUGH time to make a cook
can we use enough in positive sentences???
Yes, we can use enough in positive sentences.
Thanks,
but when i say this sentence my teacher said no this is not correct\
he said i have enough time is not correct
i confused :(
What can I say? The sentence is correct. Perhaps you could ask him why he says it isn't correct?
i asked him,he said we should say: i have plenty of time, not enough time
Both are correct, but they mean different things!
I have enough time (= not too much time)
I have plenty of time (= I have a lot of time)
should I say,There are fewer students came today in school. is this correct?thanks a lot.
There are fewer students in school today.
can i use more + uncountable for negatives and questions
i don't have more money
its right means what's different use the much and more.
I don't have more money (than you)
I don't have any more money (when you've spent everything you've got)
i am confused using a lot, with lots of, when is it right to use them? Like lots of people are there, a lot of people are there…
Both "a lot of" and "lots" of mean the same thing.
You can use them with plural and uncountable nouns, for positive and negative sentences, as well as questions.
"I have a lot of / lots of questions."
I am so sorry i don't understand this lesson at all. I can't get the difference between them till now so can you help me please?
Don't worry about it now. Come back again to the page in a month or so to see if you understand it better the next time.
