Grammar tips

Today we will take a look at some simple rules about the quantifiers few and little.

The first difference between few and little is that the first refers to countable objects/persons/situations, while the latter refers to uncountable objects/persons/situations.

A little and a few are quantifiers meaning some. We use a little with singular uncountable nouns. While we use a few with plural countable nouns. 

• “Israel and Palestine need a little faith in each other’s commitment to find peace in the region.”
• “Brazil needs just a few partners to restart the Amazon Fund.”

Conversely, little and few (without the article) have negative meanings. We use them to refer to “not as much as may be expected or wished for.”

• “Argentina is not satisfied with the IMF proposal but the country has little choice.”
• “Few cities anywhere in Brazil can match the gastronomy richness of Belo Horizonte.”

Stay tuned for more of Todd's grammar tips in our CACD English Newsletter!!