Using few a few little a little. A little, little, a few, few – rules and examples of use

Few, a few, little and a little in English are pronouns indicating quantity, in order to indicate a lack of something. These can stand in a sentence as a modifier of a noun, or independently of it, independently.

Depending on the form of use - used or not - quantitative pronouns have different meanings. These differences, as a rule, contain not only a semantic load, but also a certain assessment, which is revealed in the translation.

Rules of use

With nouns that have both singular and , and also in the case when the noun/pronoun is only thought, its presence becomes obvious from the context, the pronouns few/a few are used.

In this case, it does not matter at all how the noun forms its plural - for all these cases the rule will apply the same.

For example:

She went to the USA for a few months. – She went to America for several months.

Few of her friends had been in the USA. – Few of her friends were in America.

The pronouns little/a little are used in sentences with uncountable nouns. The rules for their use and semantic meaning are absolutely the same as for the pronouns few/a few, and their translation into Russian is also no different.

Example:

She stood in the USA a little last year. – Last year she spent a little time in America.

When she first came to the USA, she little thought that she will stay there so long.“When she first came to America, she never thought that she would stay there for so long.

Pronoun meaning (word translation)

As we have already noted, the pronouns few, little, a few and a little are used to denote an insufficient amount of something. The difference between them appears only in the context of their use with nouns.

So, few/a few is used with, and little/a little – with those that have only a singular or only a plural.

However, there are still some differences in meaning that depend on the form in which the pronoun is used and create some differences in translation.

The pronouns few, little, used without the indefinite article, express the meaning of “little”, “not enough” or “not at all”. If they are accompanied by an article, then the meaning is interpreted as “little, but enough” or “a little.”

Moreover, in the first case, the sentence will most likely contain a somewhat negative connotation, in the second – a neutral one:

I can't help you. I speak very little English. – I can’t help you, I know very little English.

I can help you, I speak a little English. – I can help you, I speak a little English.

It would seem that in both cases, the first part of the sentence implies the same thing - I don’t speak English very well, my knowledge is unlikely to be enough.

However, if in the first sentence the evaluative fact is negative, then in the second it has a positive connotation, and this already implies the use of the pronoun little with the indefinite article a:

Comparative and superlative degrees

The pronouns few/a few form comparative and superlative degrees in all rules of the English language.

In the case of the pronouns little/a little, the situation is different:

• few⇒ fewer⇒the fewest- few⇒ less ⇒ least of all
• little ⇒ less ⇒ the least - little ⇒ less ⇒ least of all
• a few/a little ⇒ more ⇒ the most – a little ⇒ more ⇒ most of all

Students of a foreign language often have problems with the correct use of similar-sounding constructions. What is the difference between the expressions a little/little/a few/few? The rule will help to understand this issue.

A little - a few

Both constructions mean “little, but enough.” In other words, a person expresses a positive attitude towards the amount of something: yes, not as much as we would like, but it’s better than nothing.

Ihavegotafewpears. - I have some pears (there are a small number of pears, but the author thinks that this is enough).

Thinkitover.You have a little time. - Think about it. You still have a little time (not much time, but you can still think about everything).

It is important for anyone learning English to know the difference between these constructions. A few/a little rules are divided this way:

• A few is placed before countable nouns.

Thereareafeworangesleft. - There are a few oranges left.

Hehaswrittenmejustafewwords. - He wrote me just a few words.

• A little is used with uncountable nouns.

I think we can afford it. Wehavealittlemoney. - I think we can afford it. We have some money.

There is a little juice in the refrigerator. - INrefrigeratorThere isA littlejuice.

These pronouns are close in meaning to some.

Compare:

There is some juice in the refrigerator.

I have got some pears.

Little - few

Let's look at the next pair of words from the group a little/little/a few/few. The rule indicates a different shade of meaning - “very little, just a little.” They are often reinforced with the word very. Here the person is clearly dissatisfied with the situation: the available quantity is not enough, he needs much more.

We have little time. Come on! Make up your mind! - Uusfewtime. Come on! Finally decide! (There is no time left, you need to make a decision now).

There are few bananas on the table. Doyouwantmetobuysomemore? - There are only a few bananas on the table. Do you want me to buy more? (This quantity is clearly not enough, you need to go to the store)

Few is used with countable nouns.

Very few people came to my party. - Onminepartyit's arrivedat allfewof people.

There are few places of interest in this city. - INthiscityalmostNoattractions.

Little is used before uncountable nouns.

Janehadverylittleideaofhisplans. - Jane knew practically nothing about his plans.

I'm afraid I can't join you. Ihavelittlemoney. - I'm afraid I won't be able to join you. I have almost no money.

As can be seen from the examples, the difference between the two pairs of quantitative pronouns is very subtle. It all depends on the person's personal perception.

Exercises

Let's consolidate our knowledge with the help of an exercise. Insert the appropriate word - a little/little/a few/few. The rule given above will help you.

1. There are _ apples left. Let's bake an apple pie. - We have some apples left. Let's bake an apple pie.
2. I don't think she can help us. She has -_ knowledge of this issue. - I don't think she will help. She is poorly versed in this matter.
3. I’m taking my first exam on Monday. Only _ days left. - On Monday I take my first exam. Only a few days left.
4. Well, I have _ time. I will have a snack. - Well, I still have some time. I'll go have a snack.
5. Only _ of them told me the truth. What a shame! -Only some of them told me the truth. What a disgrace!
6. I can't afford a new smartphone. I have _ money. - I can’t afford a new smartphone. I have very little money.
7. He has written me only _ letters. I have _ idea of ​​his new girlfriend. - He only wrote me a few letters. I know practically nothing about his new girlfriend.

So, the rule divides the expressions a little/little/a few/few according to lexical (enough or very little) and grammatical (countable or uncountable nouns) meanings.

And here is another article from the “Grammar for Beginners” series. We have already published four articles and received hundreds of grateful reviews from our readers. Let us remind you: in this series of articles we explain grammar in accessible words without complex terms, so that beginners learning the language from scratch or people who do not remember the basics of English well can understand the grammar and apply it in practice.

Demonstrative pronouns this, that, these, those

Demonstrative pronouns in English indicate an object, person, animal. In the singular we use the pronoun this (this, this, this) and that (that, that, then), in the plural - these (these) and those (those).

This and these	That and those
are near us. In some cases, such phrases will contain the word here, which will indicate to you the close location of the object. Look at this book here. - Look at this book. (which means the book is lying next to us) These shoes are too small. - These the shoes are too small. (you try on the shoes and tell the seller that they are small)	1. We talk about objects and people that are far from us. In some cases, such phrases will contain the words over there (there, over there), which will indicate to you the distant location of the object. That book over there belongs to me. - Ta the book belongs to me. (the book is at the other end of the room, and you show the person that that book over there is yours) Those shoes look fantastic! - Those the shoes look fantastic! (the shoes are on the shelf farthest from you)
2. Talk about something happening at the moment of speaking or close to the moment of speaking. This girl is charming. - This the girl is charming. (we are looking at the girl at the moment) These hamburgers are tasty. - This delicious hamburgers. (referring to the hamburgers we are eating at the moment)	2. Talk about the event in the past tense, that is, distant from the moment of speech. That girl I met last week was charming. - Ta the girl I met last week was charming. (action happened in the past) Those hamburgers we ate yesterday were tasty. - Those The burgers we ate yesterday were delicious. (we are talking about the past - a distant point in time)
3. When we introduce ourselves(in a telephone conversation) or introducing a person / several people. Hello, this is John! - Hello, This John! (we call and introduce ourselves) These are my colleagues, Tom and Jerry. - This my colleagues, Tom and Jerry.	3. When you ask the person to introduce himself person you are talking to on the phone (person is far from you). Hello, is that Sally? - Hello, This Sally?

An interesting point: the pronouns this and it are very similar, we can say both This is a dog and It is a dog. What is the difference between them?

This is a dog. - This is a dog. (emphasis on the first word: we want to say that this particular animal, and not some other animal, is a dog)

A cat and a dog stand in front of us. Your friend points to the cat and claims that it is a dog. You point at the dog and say: This is a dog.

It is a dog. - This is a dog. (emphasis on the second word: we want to emphasize that this animal is a dog, not a cat)

Your friend points to your dog and says it's a cat. In this case, you will tell him: It’s a dog (This is a DOG).

Do you understand the difference between these pronouns? Then take our test.

Test for knowledge of demonstrative pronouns this, that, these, those

Using few, a few, little, a little, a lot of, plenty

In the third part of our “Grammar for Beginners” we have already learned five words to denote the quantity of something: many, much, some, any and no. Now let's see what other expressions are used to indicate the number of countable (that can be counted) and uncountable (that cannot be counted) nouns. For convenience, we present everything in a table.

Countable nouns	Uncountable nouns	Translation	Example
a lot of, plenty of		many, very many	I have a lot of so many books. I put plenty of so many milk in your coffee.
many	much	a lot (many in all types of sentences, much mainly in negative and interrogative sentences)	Do you have many books. - At your place a lot of books? Do you put much milk in my coffee? - You a lot of poured milk into my coffee?
some		a few, a little (in affirmative sentences)	I have some books. - I have some books. I put some milk in my coffee. - I poured A little milk in your coffee.
any		a few, a little (in interrogative and negative sentences)	Do you have any books? - Do you have A little books? Did you put any milk in my coffee? - You poured A little milk in my coffee?
a few	a little	little but enough	I have a few books in my library. - In my library A little books. (this number of books is enough for me) I put a little milk in my coffee. - I poured A little milk in your coffee. (It's enough)
few	little	little and not enough	I have few books in my library. - In my library few books. (so little that it is not enough, a lack is felt) I put little milk in my coffee. - I poured few milk in your coffee. (I would like more, there is a lack)
no		there is none, there is none	I have no books in my library. - In my library there is none books. There is no milk in my coffee. - In my coffee there is no milk.

We would like to explain in a little more detail the difference between the words a few (a little) and few (little). The first of them (a few and a little) are used if you don’t have enough of something, but this amount is still enough for you, you don’t experience a shortage. While we use few and little, when you have little of something and this quantity is not enough for you, you do not have enough of it.

Features of using some, any, no

We found out how to indicate quantity using the words some, any, no. As you noticed, indefinite pronouns in English always come before the noun and, in fact, replace the article. Let's look at examples of how this happens:

There is a book in the box. = There is some book in the box. - In the box some kind book.
Pass me a cup, please. = Pass me any cup, please. - Give me any cup please.

Now let's see how the words some, any, no can be translated and in what sentences they can be used.

1. Some - several, a little/a certain amount. Used mainly in affirmative sentences and not used in negative ones.
   

   There are some books in the box. - In the box some books.

   Some can also be used in questions when we politely offer or ask something to a person and usually expect an affirmative answer.

   Would you like some cookies? - You do not want A little cookies?
   Can I have some tea, please? - Can I have some tea, please?

2. Any - any (any), no/no/none, some. Any is used in negative sentences instead of some, as well as in questions.

   Do you know any lawyers in Moscow? - You know any lawyers in Moscow?
   She didn't buy any cups. - She didn't buy it no cups.
   Are there any difficulties with translation? - Some difficulties with translation?

3. No - no (none), no (none), no (none). Always used only in negative sentences.

   They have no food in the fridge. - They have No (no) food in the refrigerator.
   There are no coats in my wardrobe. - In my closet No coat.

Please note: if the sentence contains no, we no longer need to add the negative particle not, it already means “there is no/any/any”. No can be easily replaced by any, the meaning of the sentence will not change, but in this case you also need to add the negation not: not any. In addition, instead of not, you can use the adverb never, which has a negative connotation.

There are no cats in my kitchen. = There are not any cats in my kitchen. - In my kitchen there are no cats
I never see any dogs here. - I never haven't seen it here no dogs.

Take our test and check how well you understand the use of the words some, any, no, as well as others denoting the amount of something.

Test for the use of the words some, any, no, as well as others denoting the amount of something

Indefinite pronouns with some-, any-, no- and every-

So, you already know how to use the pronouns some, any and no. And now we will tell you what other pronouns can be formed from these words:

	Talking about people + one/body	We talk about place + where	Talking about things + thing
some-	someone/somebody - somebody, somebody	somewhere - somewhere, somewhere	something - anything, something
every-	everyone/everybody - everyone, everyone	everywhere - everywhere	everything - everything
any-	anyone/anybody - anyone, anyone, no one (in negatives)	anywhere - somewhere, anywhere, nowhere (in negatives)	anything - anything, anything, nothing (in negatives)
no-	no one / nobody - no one	nowhere - nowhere	nothing - nothing

Please note: someone, everyone and anyone are considered slightly more formal than somebody, everybody and anybody. So it is preferable to use the former in formal speech, in writing, and the latter in casual conversation. In addition, all these pronouns are always followed by the singular verb everybody knows, someone helps, etc.

Let's now figure out which sentences use all of the above words:

1. Affirmative sentences: all pronouns.

   Somebody/someone closed the door. - Somebody closed the door.
   Love is everywhere. - Love everywhere.
   No one / nobody is looking for you. - Nobody is not looking for you.

   However, words that begin with any- have a peculiarity: in statements they are used only in the meaning of “anyone”, “anywhere” and “anything”. In other cases, they are replaced by pronouns that begin with some-.

   You can invite anyone/anybody you want. - You can invite whom whatever.
   Anybody Somebody broke this vase. - Somebody broke this vase.

2. Negative sentences: words starting with any-.

   I don't know anybody. - I no one Don't know. (can be translated into an affirmative sentence using a word with no)
   She didn't say anything about him. - She didn't say Nothing about him.
   I can't find this book anywhere. - I can't nowhere find this book.

   An interesting detail: all these sentences can be made affirmative, while maintaining a hint of negation, using words starting with no:

   I don't know anybody. = I know nobody. - I no one Don't know.
   She didn't say anything about him. = She said nothing about him. - She didn't say Nothing about him.
   I can't find this book anywhere. = I can find this book nowhere. - I can't nowhere find this book.

3. Interrogative sentences: words starting with some-, every- and any-.

   Can somebody/someone help her? - Anyone can you help her?
   Is everyone/everybody here? - All Here?
   Can anyone close the door? - Anyone can you close the door?

Not an easy topic, isn't it? Before taking the test, let's take a little rest and watch the video of the singer Adele “Someone like you”, in which she uses indefinite pronouns. In the spoiler you will find the lyrics of the song, you can look there while listening to the video.

Now let's test your understanding of this topic.

Test for the use of indefinite pronouns with some-, any-, no- and every-

In this article we talked about quite difficult and very important topics in English grammar for beginners. Study them thoroughly, and in the meantime we will prepare for you the next part of the article in this series. We wish you success!

Use of pronouns few, a few, little, a little is not the most difficult topic in English grammar, so we will deal with it quickly and without unnecessary worries.

General translation of words few, a few, – 'few'. What's the difference then?

Few and a few are used exclusively with countable nouns, little and a little - with uncountable nouns. Few and little mean 'few', that is, not enough. A few and a little – 'A little', but enough.

Thus we get:

Few + countable noun = few..., not enough...

A few + countable noun = a few…., enough….

Little + uncountable noun = little..., not enough...

A little + uncountable noun = a little…., enough….

That is, the question is what to use - (a) few or (a) little, disappears after you determine which word these pronouns refer to: if it is a countable noun, use (a) few, if it is an uncountable noun, use (a) little.

Consider also with examples.

Few - not enough, not enough for business

A few – not enough (= a few), but enough for the job.

I have few books for my dissertation. I need to go to the local library. – I don’t have enough books to write my dissertation. I need to visit the local library.

Though the local library is not big and modern, I managed to find a few books for my dissertation. – Although the local library is not large or modern, I still managed to find several books for my dissertation.

Little or little?

- not enough, not enough for business

- not much, but enough for the job.

I have so little money. I can't even afford this dress. - I have so little money. I can't even afford this dress.

If I had a little money, I would get this dress. – If I had some money, I would get this dress.

Only a few and only a little.

Remember, when used after only, only a few or , although by value we often get ‘little’, ‘not enough’ .

I’ve only a few minutes, I should hurry not to miss the bus. - I only have a few minutes. I have to hurry so as not to miss the bus.

I’ve only got a little sugar so I can’t make this wonderful cake. – I have very little sugar, I can’t bake this wonderful cake.

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In this article we will continue to study quantifiers. We have already become familiar with the expression of a large quantity, now it’s time to study the expression of a small quantity.

In Russian, it is enough to know the word “little” to denote a small quantity: “few apples, little money, few words, little information.” In English, one word is not enough for all these combinations. To express little they use a little, little / a few, few. In addition, in English the concept “little” can have a positive and negative meaning. Unclear? Let's figure it out.

Example sentences with a little

What you need is a little rest. What you need is some rest. What did you have for breakfast? – I just had a little cereal, I wasn’t hungry. What did you have for breakfast? - Some oatmeal, I wasn't hungry.

Meaning and usage

Example sentences with a few

Difference between a little and little, a few and few

Please note the difference in value when presence of an indefinite article a little (not little), but few (not few). A little/a few means a little, a few, a small amount: a little, but enough, so the sentence sounds positive. Little and few– little, insufficient quantity (often almost complete absence), so the proposal sounds negative. Little/few are translated into Russian almost not (t), very few. The difference is clearly visible in the example sentences:

Example sentences with a little and a few

He spoke a little English so we were able to understand him. He spoke a little English so we were able to understand him. He spoke little English so it was impossible to understand a word. He barely spoke English; it was impossible to understand a word. Find time for a little physical exercise. Find time to do some light physical activity.

Watch the video on few and little