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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How many or how much

Learn first about count and non-count nouns.

• How many = for count nouns.
• How much = for non- count nouns.

How many apples do you have?
wrong: How much apples do you have?

• Many asks for numbers.
• Much asks for size, weight, volume, etc.

More Examples:

How many gifts did you receive this Christmas?
How many girls are there in the classroom?
How much water should I drink everyday?
How much sugar should I add?
How much flour is needed for the cake?

“How many” for non-count nouns

• We can also say how many for water, milk, butter etc.
• Just add glasses of, cups of, teaspoon, scoops etc.

How many glasses of water should I drink everyday?
How many scoops of ice-cream should I add to the smoothie?
How many cups of flour?

“How much glasses of water” is wrong.

Pattern:

• How many + Count N
• How much + Non C.
• How many + glasses of + Non C.

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