Should you say ‘I have a little time’ or ‘I have little time’? What’s the difference? Find out in this lesson.
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Introduction:
- Take a look at this list of nouns and decide which ones are countable and which ones are uncountable money, dog, love, time, pencil, water, car
- Read the sentences below and complete the rules. I love dogs. That’s why I have a few. I have few friends. I’m quite lonely. Oh, no! It’s late. Can we finish this tomorrow? I have very little time. I think I’ll be fine. I studied a little.
Rules:
- ‘…’ and ‘…’ are used with countable nouns.
- ’…’ and ‘…’ are used with uncountable nouns.
- ‘…’ and ‘…’ implies not enough (negative or neutral).
- ‘…’ and ‘…’ implies enough or some (positive).
Exercise 1
Compare those sentences. Decide whether the speakers are happy or unhappy about their situation and then check your answers.
A) Which speaker is lonely?
I have a few friends.
I don’t need more friends because I have enough. 😀
I have few friends.
I’m lonely because I don’t have enough friends. 😞
B) Which speaker is in a hurry?
I have a little time.
We can go grab a coffee. 😀
I have little time.
Sorry, I’m in a hurry. 😞
C) Which speaker needs your help?
I have few ideas.
Can you help me? 😞
I have a few ideas.
I don’t need your help. 😀
D) Which speaker is more likely to pass the test?
I studied a little.
I think I’ll pass the test. 😀
I studied little.
I’m scared that I’ll fail. 😞
Exercise 2 - Learn with clips
Which one is correct: little / a little?
Watch the clips and check your answers!
1a
”How well are you trained in music?”
”I know ..., I studied it in my youth.”
(I know something 😐)
1b
”My father abandoned me to the world of men when I was six years old. I know ... of the love between father and son.”
(I don’t know much 😞)
Which one is correct: few / a few?
2a
”Who are we? Hardly the stuff of legend.”
”There are ... warriors amongst us.”
(we have some warriors, don’t worry 😀)
2b
”As a matter of fact there are very ... men here who are committed.”
(not many man 😐)
Which one is correct: little / a little?
3a
”There's a lot for you to know and very ... time to explain.”
(we don’t have much time 😞)
3b
”Give him ... more time.”
(some time 😐)
Which one is correct: few / a few?
4a
”So ..., so ... of you have returned”
(not many 😞)
4b
”I’ll send word for you in ... days Mr Angier” (soon, you won’t have to wait long 😐)
Exercise 3
Answer the questions truthfully. Put “few”, “a few”, “little” or “a little” in the gaps.
- Do you have time for a party this Sunday?
- Yes/No, I have ___ time on Sunday.
- Do you have enough food for dinner tonight?
- Yes/No, I have ___ food left for dinner.
- Are there many people in the office/at home today?
- Yes/No, there are ___ people in the office today.
- Are you busy this week?
- Yes/No, I have ___ things to do this week.
- Do you need any help with your work?
- Yes/No, I need ___ help with my work right now.
- Can you meet up with friends today after work?
- Yes/No, I have ___ free time after work.
- How much sleep did you get last night?
- I got ___ sleep last night.
- How much money in cash do you have in your wallet?
- I have ___ money in my wallet.
Exercise 4
Are you ready for something more difficult? Read the quotes and fill in the gaps with little, a little, few or a few. Then watch the clips and check your answers.
- Decide if the noun following the gap is countable (few or a few) or uncountable (little or a little).
- Then decide if the speakers mean that there’s enough (a few, a little) of something or not enough (few little) of something.
Good luck and have fun!
Example 1
nudge - uncountable noun - the act of pushing somebody gently (acc. dictionary.cambridge.org)
“I was barely involved. All I did was give your uncle ... nudge outside the door.”
Example 2
(about a writing)
”It’s some form of Elvish. I can’t read it.”
”There are ... who can.”
(not many people can read it as it’s almost forgotten)
Example 3
“You’re lucky to be here too. ... more hours and you would have been beyond our aid.”
Example 4
“If you're listening to a story of Mason's, understand that there's very ... reality in it.”
(there isn’t much reality, his stories are mostly made-up)
Example 5
“It’s not perfect but it makes ... sense.”
(it’s not ideal but I understand it because it makes some sense)
Example 6
“You were quick enough to trust the elves. Have you so ... faith in your own people?”
Example 7
"It's 9 am why is no one working?"
"Amy is … minutes late, and we're all trying to guess why.”
Example 8
"For such … ingredients—I'm sorry if I got it all around my face—it tastes so fresh, so vibrant, so tropical. I feel energized already after that one mouthful.”
Exercise 5
Imagine that I’m at your home as a guest. Answer these questions truthfully. Use these sentences as an inspiration:
- Sure, I have a few left.
- Sure, I have a little left.
- No, sorry. I have very few left.
- No, sorry. I have very little left.
Questions
- Can I have some coffee?
- Can I have some biscuits?
- Can I have some water?
- Can I have some sugar?
- Can I have some chocolate?
- Can I borrow some flour?
- Can I borrow some cups?
- Can I borrow some juice?
- Can I borrow some spoons?
Exercise 6
There’s an idiom “a person of few words”.
e.g. My grandfather was a man of few words.
What does this idiom mean?
- A person who speaks a lot.
- A person who doesn’t speak a lot.
Check the answer
Number 2 is correct. A person of few words is somebody who doesn’t speak much.