The expressions
a little and
a few mean
some. The key to make sure you are using little and few properly consider that a noun is in singular, we use
a little (i.e. a little money) and if the noun is in plural, we use
a few (i.e. 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'). Countable nouns take
a few.
- Example:
- 4 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'). Uncountable nouns take
a little.
