Little and few are quantifiers used to talk about small amounts or numbers. The key rule is about the noun that follows: little is used with uncountable nouns (time, money, water, information), and few is used with plural countable nouns (people, tickets, chances, books).
- We have little time before the train leaves.
- Few people showed up to the meeting.
- There is little evidence to support that theory.
- Few students finished the exam early.
- I have a little money saved for the trip.
- She has a few friends in this city.
- He speaks little English, so we used a translator.
- Only a few seats were still available.
Formation: Which Noun Goes with Which Word
- little / a little + uncountable noun: little water, a little sugar, little advice
- few / a few + plural countable noun: few cars, a few questions, few opportunities
This distinction mirrors that of "much" and "many": much and little go with uncountable nouns, while many and few go with countable plurals.
Little vs A Little, Few vs A Few
Adding the article "a" changes the meaning from negative to positive, even though the amount described can be almost identical.
- little / few (without "a") has a negative meaning: almost none, not enough. We have little hope of finishing on time. (= we probably won't finish)
- a little / a few (with "a") has a positive meaning: a small but sufficient amount. We have a little hope of finishing on time. (= there is some hope, which is good news)
Compare these near-identical sentences: She has few friends here (this sounds a little sad — she is somewhat isolated) versus She has a few friends here (this sounds neutral or positive — she knows some people).
Summary Table
| Form | Goes with | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| little | uncountable nouns | negative – almost none |
| a little | uncountable nouns | positive – a small amount |
| few | plural countable nouns | negative – almost none |
| a few | plural countable nouns | positive – a small number |
Tip: If you can put a number in front of the noun ("three tickets", "five friends"), use few/a few. If you can't ("three time", "five water"), use little/a little.
Common Mistakes
-
Using "few" with an uncountable noun:
Incorrect: There is few water left in the bottle.
Correct: There is little water left in the bottle. -
Using "little" with a plural countable noun:
Incorrect: Little tourists visited the museum this month.
Correct: Few tourists visited the museum this month. -
Forgetting the article "a" and reversing the intended meaning:
Unnecessary confusion: Don't worry, we have little time left. (sounds alarming — almost no time)
More natural (if reassuring): Don't worry, we have a little time left. (a small but workable amount)
Practice Exercises
Grammar Quiz
Test your understanding with targeted questions.
Complete the Sentence
Fill in the gaps to practise the structure.
True or False
Decide whether each example sentence is correct.
Flash Cards
Drill the key rules and example sentences.
Matching Pairs
Match examples to the correct rule or category.
Unjumble
Reorder scrambled words into a correct sentence.
Practise Little vs Few
LexFizz has free interactive exercises to help you master natural spoken and written English — no sign-up needed. Start practising today.
Browse All Exercises →Explore related grammar topics:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between little and few?
Little is used with uncountable nouns, like "little time" or "little money", while few is used with plural countable nouns, like "few people" or "few tickets".
What is the difference between "a little" and "little"?
"A little" has a positive meaning — a small but useful amount, as in "We have a little time to spare." "Little" without "a" has a negative meaning — almost none, as in "We have little time left," which suggests there is a problem.
What is the difference between "a few" and "few"?
"A few" means a small positive number, as in "I have a few friends here" (some, which is fine). "Few" alone means almost none, as in "I have few friends here," which sounds somewhat negative or isolating.
How do I know if a noun is countable or uncountable?
If you can put a number directly in front of it, like "three books" or "five people", it is countable, so use few/a few. If you can't, like "three water" or "five advice", it is uncountable, so use little/a little.
Are little and few related to much and many?
Yes. Much and little both go with uncountable nouns, while many and few both go with plural countable nouns, so the two pairs follow exactly the same countable/uncountable split.
Can "little" and "few" be used as pronouns without a noun?
Yes, both can stand alone when the noun is clear from context, as in "Many people applied, but few were chosen" or "I had some information, but little was useful."
Is "a little bit" the same as "a little"?
"A little bit" is an informal, slightly emphasised version of "a little" used mainly in speech, as in "I'm a little bit tired," and it carries the same positive, small-amount meaning.
Why does "few tourists visited" sound more negative than "a few tourists visited"?
Because "few" without "a" frames the number as disappointingly small (almost none came), while "a few" frames the same small number neutrally or positively (some did come).
Can "little" also be used as an adjective meaning "small in size"?
Yes, "little" has a separate, unrelated meaning as an ordinary adjective describing physical size, as in "a little dog", which is different from its use as a quantifier meaning "not much".
What is a common learner mistake with little and few?
A very common mistake is pairing the words with the wrong noun type, such as saying "few water" instead of "little water", or "little tourists" instead of "few tourists".