Tema 4.

Use of a little, a few, little and few

1. The expressions a little and a few mean some. They describe the quantity in a positive way. - We use (a) little with singular (usually uncountable) words. Example: A little money I've got a little money (= I've got enough to live on)

- We use (a) few with plurals (usually countable).

Example: A few friends I've got a few friends (= maybe not many, but enough)

Countable and uncountable nouns:

- Countable nouns have a singular and a plural form. In plural, these nouns can be
used with a number (that's why they are called 'countable nouns'). Countable nouns take a few. Example: 4 friends a few friends

- Uncountable nouns can only be used in singular. These nouns cannot be used with
a number (that's why they are called 'uncountable nouns'). Uncountable nouns take a little. Example: 3 money a little money

Note: Of course you can count money, but then you would name the currency and say that you have got 3 euro (but not, 3 money).

2. There is a difference between a little and little, and between a few and few. - With the article, a little and a few are more positive, their meaning is generally closer to some. They can often sugest ideas like better than nothing or more than expected Examples: Would you like a little soup? You dont need to go shopping? Weve got a few potatoes and some steak.

- Without the article, little and few usually have a limiting or rather negative meaning. They may suggest not as much/many as one would like, not as much/many as expected, and similar ideas.

A little / a few = some Little / few = hardly any

Examples: I need a little money. - I need some money. I need little money. - I need hardly any money. A few friends visited me. - Some friends visited me. Few friends visited me. - Hardly any friends visited me. Few people visited him in hospital (= he had almost no visitors) He had little money (= almost no money) Note: Without the article , little / few sound rather formal. That's why we don't use them very often in everyday English. A negative sentence with much / many is more common here. Example: I need little money. = I do not need much money. Few friends visited me. = Not many friends visited me. 3. We use (a) little of and (a) few of before a pronoun or determiner. (A) little of + it / this / yours etc. (A) few of + us / you / mine etc. (A) little / few of + determiner + noun. Examples: Few people can say that they always tell the truth. Few of us can say that we always tell the truth. Could I try a little wine? Could I try a little of your wine? Only a few children like maths. Only a few of the children in this class like maths.

Complete the sentences. Use a few, a little, few, little.

1.
It's good.

I've been to that Spanish restaurant ___________ times. I've got 20 Euros and ___________ coins. That should be enough for tonight.

2. 3.
couple of chapters.

I've only read ___________ the book so far- just the first Very ___________ people went to see that film. I don't know why. It's excellent.

4. 5.
and be happy again.

With time and ___________ patience, you'll forget her

6.
It's such a shame.

___________ people ever learn how to dance properly.

Dress the salad with salt, pepper and ___________ olive oil.

7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
It's good for you.

He's not a good teacher. He's unimaginative and has very

___________ patience with children.

I have ___________ time for people who talk about themselves all the time and never listen to anyone else.

___________
don't really like most of their music.

that group's songs are excellent but I

I normally have ___________ red wine with my lunch.

12. 13.
sad.

His

computer

needs

cleaning.

He

takes

very

___________ care of it. ___________ people came to see the play. It was rather
The bus service isn't very good at night - there are

14. 15.
empty.

___________ buses after 6 o'clock.

There was ___________ food in the fridge. It was nearly We made good time because there was ___________ traffic so early in the morning. Let's go and have a drink. We've got ___________ time before school starts.

16. 17.

18.
enjoy ourselves a lot.

She has ___________ friends at the seaside, and we

19. 20.
angry.

___________ people can speak two languages perfectly.

She has got ___________ patience. She always gets

21.
___________

Do you have any friends in Portsmouth? - Yes, I have got

22.
shopping.

I have ___________

time tomorrow, we could go

23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.

You didn't go to the pub, did you? - I'm afraid I did, but I only had ___________ drinks, honestly. When I go to the country, I always get bored because there's ___________ to do. Do you mind if I ask you ___________ questions? This town is not a very interesting place to visit, so

___________ tourists come here.

'Sandra is fluent in Italian, French and Spanish.' 'It's quite rare; _________ people can speak several foreign languages.' At home, the kitchen was a pleasant place. There were always ___________ flowers in a vase. Could we have ___________ champagne, please? They live in a very small flat because they have

___________ money.