What is the Difference between Few and Little?
Learning the basics of grammar is very rewarding. For one, it allows you to communicate more effectively with others. Additionally, adopting habits of proper punctuation and vocabulary enhancement can help increase your confidence in how you express yourself. However, the English language has many grammatical quirks, which can quickly put off learners.
One of the most commonly confused concepts is the difference between few and little. The words ‘little’ and ‘few’ might seem similar, but they are not. In this article, we shall explore how these two words differ, discover their actual meaning and learn how to use them correctly.
Table of Contents
- Table Summarising The Difference Between Few and Little
- The Meanings of Little and Few
- Examples for Few and Little
- Little vs Few – Conclusion
Table Showing the Difference between Few and Little
The major differences between few and little are summarised below:
| Few | Little | |
| Usage | Generally used to refer to countable nouns. It can be used as an adjective, noun or pronoun. | Generally used to refer to non-countable nouns. It can be used as an adjective, adverb or pronoun. |
| Meaning | ‘Few’ and ‘little’ are quantifiers. They refer to ‘some’. | |
| Example | John has few friends in India. | He had little food in the shack. |
The Meanings of Few and Little
- The word ‘few’ refers to countable nouns and is used with the plural form.
- ‘Little’ is generally used to refer to non-countable nouns and is used with the singular form.
Important note: Countable nouns, as the name implies, are nouns that can be counted. For example, An orange, two oranges, three oranges, etc. Uncountable nouns, on the other hand, are nouns that cannot be counted. For example, you cannot use “moneys” or “informations”.
Examples of Little and Few:
We shall explore some examples:
- Few:
- As an adjective: His few decent clothes were now torn.
- As a noun: Private jets are for the privileged few.
- As a pronoun: Few thought of challenging these findings.
- Little:
- As an adjective: My little sister.
- As an adverb: On their way back home, they spoke very little.
- As a pronoun: Little is known about her childhood.
Few vs Little – Conclusion
The rules of English grammar can be rather hard to understand, but good grammar is the main building block of good written and communication skills. Hence, it is important to become proficient as it is vital for success in academics and career. To learn more differences between few and little, or to discover other important concepts in grammar, register at BYJU’S English.
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