Use a few with countable nouns and a little with uncountable nouns to mean some or enough, as in I have a few friends or she has a little time. Use few or little without a to mean almost none, as in he has few friends here or there is little water in the bottle.
Grammar Rule
A few/a little have a positive meaning (some, enough); few/little (without a) have a negative meaning (almost none).
A Few, Few, A Little, Little: Rules and Examples
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a few (countable) | some, enough | I have a few friends. There are a few apples in the basket. |
| few (countable) | hardly any | He has few friends here. |
| a little (uncountable) | some, enough | She has a little time before the meeting. |
| little (uncountable) | hardly any | There is little water in the bottle. |
Remember: a few/a little is positive (enough); few/little is negative (almost none).
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below choosing correctly between a few, few, a little, and little. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
Quantifiers – A few, Few, A little, Little
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a few and few?
A few has a positive meaning of some or enough, as in I have a few friends, while few without a has a negative meaning of hardly any, as in he has few friends here.
What is the difference between a little and little?
A little has a positive meaning of some or enough with uncountable nouns, as in she has a little time, while little alone means hardly any, as in there is little water in the bottle.
Do a few and few go with countable or uncountable nouns?
A few and few go with countable nouns, as in a few apples, while a little and little go with uncountable nouns, as in a little sugar.
How can you remember the difference in meaning?
Remember that adding a turns the meaning positive, some or enough, while removing a makes it negative, almost none.