Both few and a few refer to a small quantity, but there is a significant difference in meaning that determines when you should use each of these words. The same is true for little and a little.
So what’s the difference between few vs a few and little vs a little?
The short answer is:
- ‘A few‘ and ‘a little‘ mean ‘some‘ or ‘several‘.
- ‘Few‘ and ‘Little‘ without the article ‘a’ mean ‘not many‘ or ‘not much‘ – with the emphasis on a small or insufficient quantity.
But there’s more to know about these confusing words, including how to use them with countable and uncountable nouns, so keep reading for more details and plenty of helpful examples.
Few vs a few and Little vs a little
All of these words and phrases refer to a relatively small, unspecified quantity. Choosing the correct one depends on two things:
- Whether you want to highlight the quantity in a positive or negative way
- Whether you’re describing a countable or uncountable noun
Find out more about the difference between countable and uncountable nouns if this is something you’re unfamiliar with.
What’s the difference between few and a few?
‘A few’ refers to a small quantity greater than two and can be used in the same way as ‘some’ or ‘several’. For example:
- I have made a few really good friends at this job.
- They organized a few games for the party.
If you want to refer to a quantity of two, use ‘a couple of’.
‘Few’ refers to the same quantity as ‘a few’ but generally has a negative meaning. It implies that the quantity is insufficient or not enough. For example:
- There are few people I really trust in this company.
- There were few party games so the children got bored quickly.
However, this use of ‘few’ is not so common in spoken, informal English. To emphasize a lack of something, it’s more normal to use ‘only a few’, ‘very few’, or ‘not many’. The last example above would sound more natural like this:
- There were only a few party games so the children got bored quickly.
- There weren’t many party games so the children got bored quickly.
- There were very few party games so the children got bored quickly.
You’ll see that ‘few’ is always used with countable nouns (things that can be separated into whole units and counted). The same is true of the comparative form, ‘fewer’. You can read more about this in our article about fewer vs less.
What’s the difference between little and a little?
The distinction between little vs a little is the same as few vs a few, except that little and a little are used with uncountable nouns.
The meanings and uses follow the same pattern. We use ‘a little’ to refer to a small amount and ‘little’ to emphasize a lack. For example:
- I have a little money left. (So I can still buy something.)
- I have little money left. (So I’d better be careful how I spend it.)
- I would like a little time to myself today. (Just a few minutes would be nice.)
- I have little time to myself each day. (I wish I had more.)
Again, we rarely use ‘little’ in this way in casual speech. Instead, we would usually say ‘only a little’, ‘very little’, or ‘not much’. For example:
- I have only a little money left.
- I don’t have much money left.
- I have very little money left.
Note: We use ‘not much’ with uncountable nouns and ‘not many’ with countable nouns.
‘Little’ is, of course, also commonly used as an adjective meaning ‘small’, as in “Look at that little kitten.”
What about a bit vs a little?
‘A bit’ is similar to ‘a little’. It has the same meaning and is used with uncountable nouns. It can also mean ‘a small piece’ or ‘a small portion’. For example:
- You look a bit happier than you did yesterday.
- Do you want a bit of this salad?
We often use the phrase ‘a little bit’ to mean ‘a small degree’ or ‘a small portion’:
- I am feeling a little bit better now.
- If everyone can volunteer a little bit of time, we will get the job done quickly.
Few/a few and little/a little as pronouns
We can use a few, a little, and a bit as pronouns in place of a noun where the meaning is clear:
- Would you like some cake? – I’m still quite full so I’ll just have a little.
- That lasagne looks delicious. Can I have a bit?
- James owns hundreds of books but Ian only has a few.
Few and little are used as pronouns in formal situations more often than in everyday speech:
- Few support the appointment of the new governor. [not many people]
- Little is remembered about this town’s heritage. [not much information]
Quite a few vs quite a lot
Confusingly, the phrase ‘quite a few’ refers to a significant, relatively large number. ‘Quite a lot’ has the same meaning, although it’s less than ‘a lot’.
However, ‘quite a few’ can only be used with countable nouns whereas ‘quite a lot’ can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. You can also use ‘quite a bit’ with uncountable nouns. For example:
- Quite a few people turned up to the event.
- Sarah has quite a few ideas to share with you for this project.
- I have quite a lot of free time today. Do you need help with anything?
- I noticed you have quite a lot of apples growing on your tree.
- They have gathered quite a bit of information.
Even more confusingly, there is no equivalent phrase using ‘little’.
Conclusion
We hope this has helped you understand the difference between few and a few and little and a little so that you can convey your intended meaning and make the gramatically correct choice.
There are many other commonly confused words in the English language. Browse some more articles below if you want to keep improving your English.
