Hello students! Congratulations on completing Years 1 and 2 of American English. Now that you are better prepared and that your American English is stronger, during years 3, 4, and 5 of your American English studies with Maestro Sersea, you will receive a different English grammar lesson each week.
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Lesson 3.52.3: Year 3
Everyday Grammar: ” Little vs A little, Few vs A few”
The word little means a bit of or hardly any amount, the little means some or a small quantity.
Little (not much).
1: The little boy was unconscious.
2: I have little interest doing math’s homework.
3: The kitchen is very little.
4: My uncle has got little ranch in Texas
A little (A small amount)
We use, a little with singular uncountable nouns.
1: A little milk is left in the fridge.
2: Ali’s mother spread a little jam on his bread.
3: I need a little piece of cake.
4: With a little effort he located the shop.
Both the term, few and a few technically refer to more than one. Few means not, ‘a lot of’ and, a few means, ‘Some’
Few (Not many)
1: I have few good friends.
2: Few people went to the concert.
3: There are few honest politicians.
A few (A small amount)
1: I have a few days off next month.
2: He is a painter and has won a few awards on his painting.