'Few' 'A few' 'Little' 'A little' Difference and Exercises
These four words are commonly confused. Understand the differences and practise the exercises below.
🔹The difference and explanation
🔹Exercises 1-10: Informal sentences
🔹Exercises 11-24: Academic sentences
The difference between 'Few' 'A few' 'Little' 'A little'
With Countable Nouns
▫️A few
▫️Few
With Uncountable Nouns
▫️A little
▫️Little
‘A few’ and ‘A little’
A few and a little both mean ‘some’ and show a small amount of something. ‘A few’ and ‘a little’ usually show a positive feeling and meaning. 🙂
▪️We only have a few jobs to do.
▪️I have bought a few books from the internet.
▪️I am going to have a little sleep now.
▪️I have a little money. Don’t worry I will buy dinner.
‘Few’ and ‘Little’
‘Few’ = not many ‘Little’ = not much
‘Few’ and ‘Little’ usually show a negative feeling and meaning. 🙁
▪️There are few reasons to be happy about the economy.
▪️Few people will become millionaires.
▪️I have little money to give you this month. I am sorry.
▪️He has little patience with most people.
Exercises
Informal/Conversational Sentences
1 . Julia has got very ____ good friends. It’s a shame.
little / a little / few / a few
✅ few (not many)
ℹ️ This sentence has a slight negative meaning, and ‘friends’ are countable.
2. In life, you only need _____ good friends
✅ a few (some)
ℹ️ ‘Friends’ are countable, and this sentence has a more positive meaning.
3. I’ve got _____ money left. I can still buy you a drink.
✅ a little (some)
ℹ️ ‘Money’ is uncountable. This sentence also has a more positive meaning.
4. I am very sorry. I have _____ money left. I cannot lend you any money..
✅ little (not much)
ℹ️ ‘Money’ is uncountable, and this sentence has a negative meaning.
5. I’m sorry. I can’t help you. I’ve got very ______ time.
✅ little (not much)
ℹ️ ‘Time’ is uncountable, and this sentence also conveys a negative meaning.
6. Yes, I can help you. I have _____ time now.
✅ a little (some)
ℹ️ This sentence conveys a positive meaning.
7. There are very ____ people at this party. Where are they?
✅ few (not many)
ℹ️ ‘People’ are countable, and this sentence conveys a negative meaning.
8. Don’t worry this party isn’t a failure. You have _____ good friends here.
✅ a few (some)
ℹ️ This sentence conveys a more positive meaning.
9. There is _____ information about the castle in this tourist guide. It’s strange.
✅ little (not much)
ℹ️ ‘Information’ is uncountable, and this sentence has a slight negative feeling.
10. It’s ok I know where to go. I read ______ information about the castle before we came here.
✅ a little (some)
ℹ️ This sentence has a positive meaning.
Academic sentences
11. Most people have _____ knowledge about Artificial Intelligence. We all have a lot to learn.
✅ little (not much)
ℹ️ ‘Knowledge’ is uncountable, and this sentence conveys a negative meaning.
12. Some argue that it is good to have ______ knowledge about Artificial Intelligence because it is going to affect our lives.
✅ a little (some)
ℹ️ This sentence conveys a positive meaning.
13. People only need to make _______ effort to make a positive change to their health.
✅ a little (some)
ℹ️ ‘Effort’ is uncountable in this context (It can be countable in other contexts). The sentence also conveys a positive meaning.
14. Disappointingly, ______ effort was made by the government to resolve the issue.
✅ little (not much)
ℹ️ The sentence conveys a negative meaning.
15. It is fortunate that there are _____ charities that help bring awareness to this issue.
✅ a few (some)
ℹ️ ‘Charities’ are countable, so we use a few. The sentence also has a positive meaning.
16. Unfortunately, ______ organisations in this sector seem to care about the wellbeing of their clients.
✅ few (not many)
ℹ️ The sentence has a negative meaning, and ‘organisations’ are countable, so we use few.
17. The government invested plenty of money, but the project made _____ growth.
✅ little (not much)
ℹ️ The sentence has a negative meaning, and ‘growth’ is uncountable.
18. It is encouraging that ______ progress has been made between opposing political parties.
✅ a little (some)
ℹ️ The sentence has a positive meaning, and ‘progress’ is uncountable.
19. Many parents were annoyed during the pandemic because ______ information was given to help them understand what to do.
✅ little (not much)
ℹ️ The sentence has a negative meaning, and ‘information’ is uncountable.
20. Even _______ information is useful during an emergency such as a pandemic.
✅ a little (some)
ℹ️ The sentence has a positive meaning.
21. _____ people seem bothered about the seriousness of climate change.
✅ Few (not many)
ℹ️ The sentence has a negative meaning, and ‘people’ are also countable.
22. It is fortunate that _____ people care and realise the seriousness of climate change.
✅ A few (some)
ℹ️ The sentence has a more positive meaning.
23. If individuals save ______ money every month, they have more of a chance to purchase a home in the future.
✅ a little (some)
ℹ️ Like the previous question, ‘money’ is uncountable, and the sentence has a positive meaning.
24. It is unfortunate that _______ progress has been made to help families on low incomes.
✅ little (not much)
ℹ️ This sentence conveys a negative feeling, and ‘progress’ is uncountable.
