A few or a little?

Learn first about count nouns and non-count nouns.

A few = for count nouns
A little = for count nouns

Commonly Confused “a little or a few” expressions:

A few for:

• fresh air       Let’s take a few fresh air outside.
• mistakes      We made a few mistakes.

A little for:

• language      I speak a little French.
• rain                There was a little rain yesterday so we got home early.
• time               I got a little time left.
• money          I’ve got a little money left.

“A few, a little” is not the same as “few, little”.

• A few means small number like 3,4,5…
• Few means almost none.

Example:

• Kim is shy that is why she only has a few friends. (3 or 4 friends)
• Brian is unkind and easily angered that is why he has few friends. (almost none)

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Count and Non-count Nouns

Count vs. Non Count Nouns

Count nouns are of course, those that you can count.
You can attach a number before it.

Example:
8 apples
5 dogs
1 bicycle
19 pens

Non-count nouns cannot be counted.
You can’t place a number before it.
You can’t say 8 milk, 5 water, 2 sugar.

But we can say:

8 glasses of milk
5 gallons of water
2 cups of sugar

Usually liquids, melting solids, grains and powdered things are non-count.

More non-count noun examples:

a dish of ice-cream
a scoop of ice-cream
a cup of flour
3 bottle of ketchup
9 packs of tomato sauce
a slice of cheese
a slice of butter

How much or how many
A few or a little

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