Answer Sheet - Few & Little

Tema 4. Use of a little, a few, little and few1. The expressions a little and a few mean some. They describe the quantity in a positive way. We use (a) little with singular (usually uncountable) words.

Example: A little money I've got a little money (= I've got enough to live on) We use (a) few with plurals (usually countable). Example: A few friends I've got a few friends (= maybe not many, but enough)Countable 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.Example: 3 money a little money

Note: Of course you can count money, but then you would name the currency and say that you have got 3euro (but not, 3money).2. There is a difference between a little and little, and between a few and few. - With the article, a little and a few are more positive, their meaning is generally closer to some. They can often sugest ideas like better than nothing or more than expectedExamples:

Would you like a little soup?

You dont need to go shopping? Weve got a few potatoes and some steak.

Without the article, little and few usually have a limiting or rather negative meaning. They may suggest not as much/many as one would like, not as much/many as expected, and similar ideas.

Examples:I need a little money. - I need some money.

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

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

Few friends visited me. - Hardly any friends visited me.Few people visited him in hospital (= he had almost no visitors) He had little money (= almost no money)

Note: Without the article, little / few sound rather formal. That's why we don't use them very often in everyday English. A negative sentence with much / many is more common here.Example:

I need little money. = I do not need much money.

Few friends visited me. = Not many friends visited me.

3. We use (a) little of and (a) few of before a pronoun or determiner.

(A) little of + it / this / yours etc.

(A) few of + us / you / mine etc.

(A) little / few of + determiner + noun.Examples:Few people can say that they always tell the truth.

Few of us can say that we always tell the truth.

Could I try a little wine?

Could I try a little of your wine?

Only a few children like maths.

Only a few of the children in this class like maths.Complete the sentences. Use a few, a little, few, little.1. I've been to that Spanish restaurant ___________ times. It's good.

2. I've got 20 Euros and ___________ coins. That should be enough for tonight.

3. I've only read ___________ the book so far- just the first couple of chapters.

4. Very ___________ people went to see that film. I don't know why. It's excellent.

5. With time and ___________ patience, you'll forget her and be happy again.

6. ___________ people ever learn how to dance properly. It's such a shame. 7. Dress the salad with salt, pepper and ___________ olive oil.

8. He's not a good teacher. He's unimaginative and has very ___________ patience with children.

9. I have ___________ time for people who talk about themselves all the time and never listen to anyone else.

10. ___________ that group's songs are excellent but I don't really like most of their music.

11. I normally have ___________ red wine with my lunch. It's good for you.

12. His computer needs cleaning. He takes very ___________ care of it.

13. ___________ people came to see the play. It was rather sad.

14. The bus service isn't very good at night - there are ___________ buses after 6 o'clock. 15. There was ___________ food in the fridge. It was nearly empty. 16. We made good time because there was ___________ traffic so early in the morning. 17. Let's go and have a drink. We've got ___________ time before school starts. 18. She has ___________ friends at the seaside, and we enjoy ourselves a lot. 19. ___________ people can speak two languages perfectly. 20. She has got ___________ patience. She always gets angry. 21. Do you have any friends in Portsmouth? - Yes, I have got ___________ 22. I have ___________ time tomorrow, we could go shopping. 23. You didn't go to the pub, did you? - I'm afraid I did, but I only had ___________ drinks, honestly. 24. When I go to the country, I always get bored because there's ___________ to do. 25. Do you mind if I ask you ___________ questions? 26. This town is not a very interesting place to visit, so ___________ tourists come here. 27. 'Sandra is fluent in Italian, French and Spanish.' 'It's quite rare; _________ people can speak several foreign languages.' 28. At home, the kitchen was a pleasant place. There were always ___________ flowers in a vase. 29. Could we have ___________ champagne, please? 30. They live in a very small flat because they have ___________ money. A little / a few = some

Little / few = hardly any