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Helena
What is the difference between 少し (sukoshi) and 少ない (sukunai)?
When it is possible to use one instead of another? What are situations when I cannot exchange those two words? Could you give me some vivid examples :-)
Apr 13, 2008 8:51 AM
Answers · 3
1
as above said, they aren't interchangable.
少し(a little, a few) is an adverb , which modify verb, describe degree;
and 少ない(little, few) is an adjective, which modify noun.
as above example.
April 14, 2008
1
They are nnot interchangable.
"sukosi" = a little i.e I only speak a a little = sukoshi dake hanaseru
or I only want a little = sukoshi dake de ii yo.
'sukunai' = there isn't much or many
I don't have much money = okane sukunai yo
or..there aren't many people = hito ga sukunai.
April 13, 2008
It is difficult to use 少し instead of 少ない.
If it is changed by the scene a little, it is possible to use it.
Case 1. 水が少ない (no words after 少ない)
水が少し instead of 水が少ない is a little odd though 水が少しだ is safe.
Case 2. 少ない水 (some noun after 少ない)
少し水 instead of 少ない水 is odd though 少しの水 is safe.
(Strictly,there is a very slight difference between 少ない水 and 少しの水. Unfortunately, I cannot explain it by English.)
(maybe.. "少ない水"="water which is a little" , "少しの水"="a little amount of water")
April 16, 2008
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Helena
Language Skills
English, Japanese, Polish, Russian
Learning Language
English, Japanese, Russian
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