Expressing quantity

Let's see the difference between little / a little / few / a few

The expressions a little and a few mean some.

• • If a noun is in singular, we use a little

    • • Example:

      • I've got a little money (tengo un poco de dinero)

  • If a noun is in plural, we use a few

    • • Example:

      • I've got a few friends (tengo unos pocos amigos)

• • • Without the article "a", little and few  have a limiting or negative meaning.

• a little = some (un poco)

• little = hardly any (poco, casi nada)

  • • Example:

    • I need a little money. - I need some money.

    • I need little money. - I need hardly any money.

• a few = some (unos pocos)

• few = hardly any(pocos)

  • • Example:

    • A few friends visited me. - Some friends visited me.

    • Few friends visited me. - Hardly any friends visited me.

      • CLick here to practice