a little
I have a little money.
There’s a little milk in the fridge.
There’s a little water in the bottle.
=> ‘a little’ = some (but not much)
=> Use ‘a little’ before words like ‘milk’ that don’t use an ‘-s’ at the end.
a few
There are a few flowers in the garden.
There are a few carrots in the fridge.
There are a few bananas in the bowl.
=> ‘a few’ = some (but not many)
=> Use ‘a few’ before words like ‘bananas’ that do use an ‘-s’ at the end.
little
There’s little rain in Chile.
There’s little food in the house.
There’s little sun in Scotland in the winter.
=> ‘Little’ is less than ‘a little’.
=> Use ‘little’ before words like ‘milk’.
few
There were few cars on the roads in the 1950’s.
We sell few CDs now.
There are few lions in India now.
=> ‘Few’ is less than ‘a few’.
=> Use ‘few’ before words like ‘bananas’.
Look out!
LOOK OUT! Do not say/write this!
Wrong: We played a few game (NO!) of football.
Correct: We played a few games of football.
Think before you speak/write: after ‘few’/ ‘a few’, put an ‘s’ after the next word.
Don’t forget!
not much => ‘a little’ + words like ‘milk’
not many => ‘a few’ + words like ‘bananas’
less than ‘a little’ => ‘little’ + words like ‘milk’
less than ‘a few’ => ‘few’ + words like ‘bananas’
a
A cola, please.
I have a Mercedes.
Do you have a flat?
He has a friend in London.
Is there a cinema in your town?
some
There’s some milk in the fridge.
It’s so hot! I need some water!
I need to buy some petrol.
Here’s some money for your holiday.
Put some salt in the omelette.
Look out!
LOOK OUT! Do not say/write this!
I’m reading book about Donald Trump.
Correct: I’m reading a book about Donald Trump.
Use ‘’a’ before words like ‘car’, ‘flat, and ‘friend’.
Don’t forget!
Only one => ‘a’ + words like ‘friend’
A quantity (how much isn’t important) => ‘some’ + words like ‘milk’