A Little / A Few

The expressions a little and a few mean some.

If a noun is in singular, we use a little
Example:
a little money
If a noun is in plural, we use a few
Example:
a few friends
Countable / Uncountable Nouns
In connection with a little / a few people often speak of countable nouns and uncountable nouns.
Countable nouns have a singular and a plural form. In plural, these nouns can be used with a
number that!s why they are called !countable nouns!". #ountable nouns take a few.
Example:
$ friends % a few friends
Uncountable nouns can only be used in singular. These nouns cannot be used with a number that!s
why they are called !uncountable nouns!". &ncountable nouns take a little.
Example:
' money % a little money
Note: (f course you can count money % but then you would name the currency and say that you
have got ' euro but not )' money*".
A Little / A few or Little / Few
It!s a difference if you use a little / a few or little / few. +ithout the article, the words have a limiting
or negative meaning.
a little , some
little , hardly any
Example:
I need a little money. - I need some money.
I need little money. - I need hardly any money.
a few , some
few , hardly any
Example:
. few friends visited me. - /ome friends visited me.
0ew friends visited me. - 1ardly any friends visited me.
Example:
I need little money. , I do not need much money.
0ew friends visited me. , 2ot many friends visited me.