Few vs Little
Master Few vs Little in English. Learn when to use each form with countable and uncountable nouns and speak more accurately.
Few and little talk about a small amount. Use few with countable nouns, and use little with uncountable nouns. This is the main difference.
Few comes before plural countable nouns. Little comes before uncountable nouns. They usually stand directly before the noun phrase.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use few before plural countable nouns. |
| Use little before uncountable nouns. |
| Place few or little before the noun, not after it. |
Countable nouns are things you can count as separate items. With these nouns, use few. The noun is plural after few.
| Word or Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
 books | This is a countable noun because you can count separate books. |
 chairs | This is a countable noun because each chair is one item. |
 people | This is a countable noun because you can count persons as individuals. |
Uncountable nouns are things we usually see as a mass, not as separate items. With these nouns, use little. The noun does not take a plural form in this use.
| Word or Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
 water | This is an uncountable noun because we usually measure it as a substance. |
 time | This is often an uncountable noun when it means an amount of time. |
 money | This is usually an uncountable noun when it means an amount in general. |
A few and a little usually mean some, and this meaning is often more positive. They suggest that the amount is small but enough for the situation. In everyday English, these forms are often more natural than bare few and little.
| Rule |
|---|
| A few means a small number, but it often suggests enough. |
| A little means a small amount, but it often suggests enough. |
| In everyday English, a few and a little often sound more natural than few and little. |
Few and little without a usually sound more negative. They suggest that the amount is smaller than wanted or expected. Some speakers use them more strongly than others, so the exact feeling can vary.
| Rule |
|---|
| Few often suggests not enough people or things. |
| Little often suggests not enough of a substance, time, or money. |
| The negative feeling is common, but speakers do not always judge it in exactly the same way. |
Few and little can also appear without a following noun when the noun is understood from the situation. This is common in short answers and general statements. The same countable and uncountable difference stays the same.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use few alone when the understood noun is countable. |
| Use little alone when the understood noun is uncountable. |
| The meaning still depends on whether the missing noun is countable or uncountable. |
You can now choose few with plural countable nouns and little with uncountable nouns. You can also understand the difference between a few and a little, which often sound more positive, and few and little, which often sound more negative. You can use these forms before nouns and also in short answers or general statements.