LoginLittle vs. Few
What Are Their Main Differences?
These two words are similar in meaning, but there are slight differences between them. 'Little' is used to refer to a singular uncountable noun, while 'few' is used to refer to a plural countable noun.
Differences
What They Refer to
'Little':
refers to a small amount. By 'small amount' we mean 'almost nothing' or 'hardly any'*.
Little oil is left in the bottle.
Little private information was given to the police.
'Few':
refers to a small number. It can mean hardly any or almost nothing.
Few cars are worth the price.
I postponed the party because just few were coming.
Countable or Uncountable Nouns?
'Little':
is followed by a singular uncountable noun. Uncountable nouns are those that cannot be counted or get a number before them.
They were in little danger in the woods, because it was not dark and the wolves were sleeping.
Little rain has made the ground wet.
'Few':
is followed by a plural countable noun. As a result, we cannot have the articles 'a' or 'an' after the term 'few'.
Few kings were cruel to their people in the past.
Few political issues are solved by the government.
Similarities
Grammatical Functions
'Little':
As a determiner, it is used before nouns. 'little' as a pronoun, is used alone with no nouns directly after it. As an adjective, it is the synonym of 'small' and it is used before nouns.
She always pay little attention, that's why she never learns how to drive. → determiner
Little is known about the hidden policies of their acts. → pronoun
The oranges grow out of little blossoms. → adjective
'Few':
Determiner
Pronoun
Adjective
As you know, determiners are used before nouns. 'Few' as a pronoun is not immediately followed by a noun. 'Few' as an adjective means a number of and it is used before nouns.
She is only seven. She must have read few books. → determiner
Few were standing under the rain, the others were in the building to avoid getting a cold. → pronoun
They wanted to ask me few questions. → adjective
What They Refer to
'Little' and 'few':
both refer to a small quantity. By quantity we mean the amount or number of something. As you know, 'few' refers to a small number, while 'little' refers to a small amount.
There is little hope for the dog to resist the hard surgery.
She is among the few people I care about.
Why Using 'of'
'Little of' and 'few of':
are followed by noun phrases. A noun phrase can follow a definite article, determiners, etc.
Few of the guests were foreigners.
They used little of the water to wet the petals.
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