Distinguish “Few” vs “A Few” and “Little” vs “A Little”

In English, we learn many words used to describe quantities such as: few, little, many, much,... Among them, Few and A Few have similar usage and spelling and are easily confused. In the following article, IDP will guide you to distinguish and use Few and A Few effectively in communication and writing.

Both terms refer to a small number of countable nouns, but their tone and meaning vary:

Usage notes:

• Few implies scarcity and often comes across as negative—even though it’s in an affirmative sentence.

• A few signals that there is a small but sufficient amount and carries a positive tone.

Common structures:

• Few / A few + plural noun

  • We stayed a few days in Vietnam and tried many traditional dishes.

  • There are few children at school during winter break.

• Few / A few used as pronouns

  • Don’t take all the apples. Just have a few.

  • Few would support working more than 8 hours a day.

• Few / A few of + determiner + plural noun

  • A few of his paintings received recognition.

  • Few of them can do that very well.

These are quantifiers for uncountable nouns:

• Little = very small amount—often negative feeling.

  • I have little cash—not enough to buy a bus ticket.

• A little = small amount, but enough for a purpose—positive nuance.

  • My grandfather has a little cash—enough to buy a train ticket.

Tip: Adding only (e.g. only a little) emphasizes the small amount, often in a negative context.

• Few / A few should not follow forms of to be (is/am/are, etc.).

  • Correct: His store had a few apples.

  • Incorrect: The apples in his store is a few.

• Common modifiers:

  • Quite a few = a significant number We’ve got quite a few friends in the class.

  • Very few = almost none, adds emphasis There are very few natural landscapes in the city.

While correct, using few or a few in IELTS responses usually reflects intermediate vocabulary. To aim for band 6.5+, consider using more academic equivalents:

• Few / A few + plural noun ≈ a small number of + plural noun

  • A few customers entered the café to discuss work.

  • Same meaning: A small number of customers entered the café to discuss work.

• Few + plural noun ≈ not many / nearly no

  • There are very few guests visiting the store—silence reigns.

  • Equivalent: There are not many guests visiting the store. or Nearly no guests visit.

Bài tập 1: Điền Few hoặc A Few vào chỗ trống

Bài tập 2: Chọn từ điền vào chỗ trống

Exercise 1 Answers

1. Few (Hardly any tourists visited Northern Ireland in the 1980s because of the terrorism there).

2. Few (He is not friendly, so he has very few friends).

3. A few (There are a few people at this event, it looks quite busy).

4. A few (Only a few of his films have appeared abroad).

5. Few (The postman doesn't come here often. We hardly get any mail).

6. A few (Nam is very tired. He has a few days off next week).

7. A few (Have you ever seen the Eiffel Tower? Yes, I have seen it a few times).

8. A few (I can speak a little English, but I'm not very fluent).

9. Few (There are very few shops here, and hardly any entertainment).

10. Few (This town is not a very interesting place to visit, so there are hardly any tourists here.)

Answers to Exercise 2

1. A few (Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?)

2. Only a few (The shop is very quiet. Only a few customers have come here.)

3. A few (I took a few photos but none of them are good.)

4. Few (Look! There are very few left there.)

5. Few (The marine reptile is one of the few creatures known to have a longer lifespan than humans.)

6. A few (I don't know much about computers, so I asked a few assistants.)

7. Few (The test was very difficult, so very few students could do it.)

8. A few (A significant number of students complained to their parents about the course.)

Exercise 1: Choose the correct answer for the blank in the sentence

1. I feel sorry for her. She has (few/ a few) friends. 

2. There are (a few/ a little) elephants at the zoo.

3. I’ve got (a little/ little) money. I’m going to the cinema.

4. I’ve been able to save (a little/ little) money this month.

5. (A few/ A little) students passed the exam because it was very difficult.

6. We should try to save (a little/ a few) electricity this month. 

7. I have very (little/ a little) time for hanging out with my friends because of the final exam comes soon. 

Exercise 2: Exercise to distinguish Few and A few, Little and A little

1. There are…………..elephants at the zoo. (a few /a little)

2. I feel sorry for her. She has………..friends. (few/ a few)

3. I have very…………..time for going out with my club because the English mini-exam is coming soon. (little/ a little)

4. She has been able to save…………electricity this month. (a little/ a few)

5. …………students passed the competition although the question was very difficult. (A few/ A little)

Exercise 1

1. few

2. a few

3. a little

4. a little 

5. a few

6. a little 

7. little 

Exercise 2

1. a few – 2. few – 3. little – 4. a little – 5. a few

Above are the differences between Few and A Few as well as details on how to use each word in each case. IDP hopes that the knowledge in the article will help you practice, improve your English level and prepare better for upcoming exams.

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