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LITTLE AND FEW
Little means not
much, and few means not many. Few and many are used with countable nouns.
Little and much are used with uncountable nouns.
Many people, much
hope, much sorrow, many houses, much time, much luck.
Little and few
express negative ideas and appear to suggest some sort of disappointment
with the low quality involved.
Hurry up; there is little time left (not
much, not enough)
He is not popular; he has few friends (not
many)
I'm very hungry now. Today, I ate little food. (not much)
You
wouldn't be a good teacher because you have little patience (not
much)
We had to stop the conversation because there was little to talk
about. (not much)
A little and a few mean some or at least some. The
idea expressed is positive and they suggest that, though the quality is
small, it is still encouraging or just enough
We don't need to hurry;
we still have a little time. (some time, at least enough time) Because I
could speak a little French, we understood each other.
I think life is
better here; I have a few friends who entertain me.
Things are not
going well for her; she has a few Problems. (some problems, enough to make
her uncomfortable)
Exercise 9
1. I am a poor man, but I
have�.money with which to feed my children.
A. little B. few C. a few
D. a little
Sharon said, "Will you lend me a few books?"
2. Tom
replied, "I have�.books left. I can't spare any."
A. few B. a few C. a
little D. little
3. Nike's mother instructed her to add�.salt to the
salt.
A. a few more B. a little more
C. some few D. many more
4. Many people were invited to the party but �� were catered for.
WASSCE June 2003
A. a few B. several C. a little D.
few
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