Few vs Little
English vocabulary module on 'Few vs Little' focusing on differences in quantity expressions. Learn how to use 'few' and 'little' correctly in various contexts.
Countable nouns
Countable nouns are things that can be separated into individual units and can be counted. They have singular and plural forms. Words like apples, chairs, and ideas are countable nouns. In English, we use numbers and words like many and few with countable nouns.
Word/Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
 apple | A thing that can be counted as one or more items. |
 book | A thing that has a singular and plural form and can be counted. |
 coin | An individual unit that can be counted and made plural. |
Uncountable nouns
Uncountable nouns are substances or concepts that are not divided into individual units by default and do not normally have a plural form. They are measured by quantity or amount, not by counting separate items. Words like water, information, and money are uncountable nouns. In English, we use words like much and little with uncountable nouns.
Word/Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
 water | A substance that is measured by amount, not by counting pieces. |
 information | A concept that does not usually take a plural form and is measured by amount. |
 money | An amount that is treated as a whole and is not counted as individual items. |
Few
Few is used with countable nouns to mean a small number. It describes a small quantity of things that can be counted. Few makes it clear that the number is not many. In English, use few when you are talking about how many items or people there are.
Rule |
|---|
Use 'few' with countable nouns to mean a small number of items. |
'Few' shows that the quantity is small and the noun is plural. |
Little
Little is used with uncountable nouns to mean a small amount. It describes a small quantity of something that is not counted as separate items. Little makes it clear that the amount is not much. In English, use little when you are talking about how much of a substance or concept there is.
Rule |
|---|
Use 'little' with uncountable nouns to mean a small amount. |
'Little' shows that the quantity is small and the noun stays singular. |
Contrast
The main difference is that few goes with nouns you can count, and little goes with nouns you measure by amount. Both words express a small quantity, but they match different types of nouns. Choosing the correct word depends on whether the noun is countable or uncountable. This choice keeps sentences clear and natural in English.
Word/Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
 few | A small number, used with countable nouns like books or ideas. |
 little | A small amount, used with uncountable nouns like time or bread. |