Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 84 · A2

(a) little, (a) few

a little goes with uncountable nouns and a few with plurals; both mean some, but not much or many. Without a, little and few mean almost none, so a little and a few sound positive while little and few sound negative.

Start the lesson

17Steps · about 27 minutes

In this lesson

little + uncountable, few + pluralA1 screen of questions
a little, a few = someB4 screens of questions
little, few = almost noneC4 screens of questions
Positive or negativeD2 screens of questions

Point A of 4

little + uncountable, few + plural

(a) little + uncountable noun: a little water, a little money, a little time.

(a) few + plural noun: a few books, a few questions, a few days.

  • Add a little salt.
  • We've got a few minutes before the train leaves.

Point A · Extra practice

Put in a little or a few.

  1. Can I have milk in my tea, please?

  2. I'm going away for days.

  3. We've got time before the film starts.

Point B of 4

a little, a few = some

a little = some, but not much.

a few = some, but not many.

  • She didn't feel like eating, but she drank a little tea.
  • I speak a little German. (= some German, but not much)
  • "Do you speak German?" "A little."
  • I sent a few messages last night.
  • We're staying with friends for a few days.
  • I know a few words of Polish.
  • "Are there any cafés in the village?" "Yes, a few."

Point B · Exercise 84.1 · part 1 of 2

Answer the questions with a little or a few.

Use these

a littlea few

  1. Example

    "Have you got any cash?" "Yes, a little."

    Answer"Have you got any cash?" "Yes, a little."

  2. "Have you got any stamps?" "Yes, ."

  3. "Do you want milk in your tea?" "Yes, , please."

  4. "Did you buy any souvenirs on holiday?" "Yes, ."

  5. "Does your brother speak French?" "Yes, ."

Point B · Exercise 84.1 · part 2 of 2

Answer the questions with a little or a few.

Use these

a littlea few

  1. "Are there any museums in this town?" "Yes, ."

Point B · Exercise 84.2 · part 1 of 2

Put in a little or a few + one of these words: air, chairs, days, friends, messages, milk, Japanese, times.

Use these

airchairsdaysfriendsmessagesmilkJapanesetimes

  1. Example

    Last night I sent a few messages to my family.

    AnswerLast night I sent a few messages to my family.

  2. Could I have in my tea, please?

  3. "When did Ben leave?" " ago."

  4. "Can you speak any other languages?" "I can speak ."

  5. "Are you going to the gig on your own?" "No, I'm going with ."

Point B · Exercise 84.2 · part 2 of 2

Put in a little or a few + one of these words: air, chairs, days, friends, messages, milk, Japanese, times.

Use these

airchairsdaysfriendsmessagesmilkJapanesetimes

  1. "Have you ever been to Dublin?" "Yes, ."

  2. The waiting room was nearly bare. There was just a desk and .

  3. It's stuffy in here. I'm going outside for fresh .

Point C of 4

little, few = almost none

Without a, little = almost nothing, and few = almost none.

You often hear very little and very few.

  • There was little petrol in the tank. The warning light was on.
  • My grandfather eats very little these days. (= almost nothing)
  • There were few people on the beach. It was almost deserted.
  • Your spelling is excellent. You make very few mistakes.

Point C · Exercise 84.3 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences. Use very little or very few + one of these words: coffee, shops, mistakes, people, rain, time, work.

Use these

coffeeshopsmistakespeopleraintimework

  1. Example

    Your spelling is excellent. You make very few mistakes.

    AnswerYour spelling is excellent. You make very few mistakes.

  2. I drink . It keeps me awake.

  3. The summers here are very dry. There's .

  4. It's hard to buy anything in this village. There are .

  5. We need to get a move on. We've got .

Point C · Exercise 84.3 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences. Use very little or very few + one of these words: coffee, shops, mistakes, people, rain, time, work.

Use these

coffeeshopsmistakespeopleraintimework

  1. The town is dead at night. go out.

  2. Some of my colleagues are really idle. They do .

Point C · Exercise 84.4 · part 1 of 2

Put in little / a little / few / a few.

Use these

littlea littlefewa few

  1. Example

    There was little petrol in the tank. The warning light was on.

    AnswerThere was little petrol in the tank. The warning light was on.

  2. "When did Amir go out?" " minutes ago."

  3. I can't give you an answer yet. I need time to think it over.

  4. There was traffic, so we got there earlier than we planned.

  5. The trains are terrible on Sundays. There are trains after six o'clock.

Point C · Exercise 84.4 · part 2 of 2

Put in little / a little / few / a few.

Use these

littlea littlefewa few

  1. "Would you like some cake?" "Yes, , please."

  2. I'd like to speak more Spanish, but I have chance to practise.

Point D of 4

Positive or negative

a little / a few is a positive idea: there is some.

little / few is a negative idea: there is hardly any.

  • They've got a little money, so they're managing. (= they have some)
  • They've got little money. They're struggling. (= almost none)
  • I've got a few good friends, so I'm never lonely. (= some friends)
  • I've just moved here and I've got few friends. (= almost none)

Point D · Exercise 84.5 · part 1 of 2

Right or wrong? Correct the sentences where necessary. Write OK if the sentence is correct.

  1. Example

    We're going to the coast for few days next month.

    We're going to the coast for a few days next month.

    AnswerWe're going to the coast for a few days next month.

  2. We all need little help sometimes.

  3. Sorry, I'm in a rush. I've got few errands to run.

  4. I eat very little sugar. I'm trying to cut down.

  5. Excuse me, could I ask you few questions?

Point D · Exercise 84.5 · part 2 of 2

Right or wrong? Correct the sentences where necessary. Write OK if the sentence is correct.

  1. There were little people at the match. The stadium was nearly empty.

Lesson 84 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: old/nice/interesting etc. (adjectives)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. little + uncountable, few + plural–Not checkedB. a little, a few = some–Not checkedC. little, few = almost none–Not checkedD. Positive or negative–Not checked