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Norberto108
The Difference between a few/few and a little/little
What is the difference between a few/ few and a little/little? Can you provide me with an example?
Jan 12, 2016 4:47 PM
Corrections · 2
The difference between a few/few vs a little/little has to do with the noun that it refers to - we use 'little' with uncountable nouns and 'few' with countable:
e.g. There's a little juice left in the fridge. e.g. Do we have money? - Yeah, we have a little.
e,g, There are a few books on the table. e.g. I have a few friends in Germany.
The difference between a few/a little vs few/little is the following: We use A few/A little when we mean 'some, about 2-5 of...' and we use few/little (with no A) when we mean 'it's so few/little that it is not enough', with a somewhat negative connotation.
e.g. I have a few magazines in Spanish. vs e.g. There are few magazines in Spanish in this bookstore (meaning, the selection of Spanish magazines is bad).
e.g. We've got a little milk. vs e.g. We've got little milk (meaning, we don't have enough for..., we need to buy some).
January 12, 2016
"a few" and "a little" can be used as an amount.
Ex: "Can I have a few of your chips?"
January 12, 2016
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Norberto108
Language Skills
English, French, Portuguese
Learning Language
English
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