Few/little/a few/a little

A little (un poco pero suficiente para nuestro propósito) (used with uncountable nouns) and a few (pocos
pero suficientes para nuestro propósito) (used with countable nouns) mean small quantity but enough for
the purpose.

Little (un poco e insuficiente para nuestro propósito) (used with uncountable nouns) and a few (pocos
pero suficientes para nuestro propósito) (used with countable nouns) mean small quantity and not
enough for the purpose.

Very Little and very few are less that little and few.

Can be used as adjectives:

• I need a little money. - I need some money.

• I have little money. - I have hardly any money.
• A few friends visited me. - Some friends visited me.
• Few friends visited me. - Hardly any friends visited me.
• Few cities are as big as London.
• I have a little money, enough for the cinema at least.

Can be used as pronouns:

• Don’t take all, I just have a few

• Tell them a little about her life
• Little is known about her.
• Few would be in favour of a new government.

Can be used as pronouns followed by of + a/an, the, this, that, these, thouse, possessives (my, your,…) or
pronouns (him, them,…):

• Mix it with a little of the milk.

• A few of his films were very boring.

Little can be used meaning small. We use small to refer only to size. We use little to refer to size, but also
to express a positive emotion (especially with words like beautiful, lovely, wonderful). In this case is used
with a determiner a or the. En español sería el diminutive ito, a little boy= un muchachito.

• a little girl= una chiquilla

• a few girls= unas pocas chicas/niñas
• a little dog = un perrito
• a few dogs = unos pocos perros
• a little chicken = un poco de pollo o un pollito.
Exercise 2: Little/a little/few/a few
1. I have _______ water left. There’s enough to share.
2. I have _______ good friends. I’m not lonely.
3. He has _______ education. He can’t read or write, and he can hardly count.
4. There are _______ people she really trusts. It’s a bit sad.
5. We’ve got _______ time at the weekend. Would you like to meet?
6. Julie gave us _______ apples from her garden. Shall we share them?
7. She has _______ self-confidence. She has a lot of trouble talking to new people.
8. There are _______ women politicians in the UK. Many people think there should be more.
9. It’s a great pity, but the hospital has _______ medicine. They can’t help many people.
10. I’ve got _______ cakes to give away. Would you like one?
11. There’s _______ milk left in the fridge. It should be enough for our coffee.
12. _______ children from this school go on to university, unfortunately.
13. Do you need information on English grammar? I have _______ books on the topic if you would like
to borrow them.
14. She’s lucky. She has _______ problems.
15. London has _______ sunshine in the winter. That’s why so many British people go on holiday to
sunny places!
16. There’s _______ spaghetti left in the cupboard. Shall we eat it tonight?
17. When the water has boiled, pour _____of it into a tea pot.
18. Very _____of them were able to pass the exam.
19. A _____of these can be used for making jam.
20. _____help was offered to the poor. It should have been more.
21. A ______boy was had a little car.
22. He’s a lovely _____baby