“few” vs. “little”
Use "few" (or "a few") with countable plural nouns; use "little" (or "a little") with uncountable/mass nouns. Adding "a" tends to suggest a modest but sufficient amount; omitting it emphasizes scarcity.
few
"Few" is a determiner used with countable plural nouns to indicate a small number ("few people," "a few apples"). It comes from Old English "feawa," and it pairs specifically with things you can count individually, item by item, mirroring the countable-noun rule that also governs "fewer" versus "less."
little
"Little" is a determiner used with uncountable (mass) nouns to indicate a small amount ("little water," "a little time"), and separately, as an adjective, it can mean small in size ("a little house"). It comes from Old English "lytel," and when used to indicate quantity rather than physical size, it pairs specifically with uncountable nouns, mirroring the countable/uncountable distinction that also governs "fewer" versus "amount" or "less."
The real distinction
The distinction between "few" and "little" mirrors the broader countable/uncountable noun rule found throughout English: "few" pairs with countable nouns — things you can count individually, like books, people, or mistakes ("few opportunities," "few complaints") — while "little" pairs with uncountable (mass) nouns — things measured in bulk rather than counted as discrete units, like time, money, or patience ("little time," "little patience"). Both words also carry a subtle distinction between the bare form and the "a" form: "a few" and "a little" suggest a modest but sufficient amount in a fairly neutral or even positive light ("we have a few minutes," "there's a little hope left"), while "few" and "little" without the article suggest a more negative, insufficient amount, emphasizing scarcity ("we have few minutes left" sounds more urgent and worrying than "we have a few minutes left"). A reliable check: first determine whether the noun is countable (use "few"/"a few") or uncountable (use "little"/"a little"), then decide whether you want to emphasize sufficiency (add "a") or scarcity (omit "a"). It's also worth noting that both words can shift tone depending on the presence of "a": "few friends" sounds almost lonely, while "a few friends" sounds perfectly content, and the same shift applies to "little time" (worryingly scarce) versus "a little time" (comfortably sufficient).
Examples with “few”
- Only a few people showed up to the early screening.
- She has few complaints about her new job.
- There are few opportunities like this one available right now.
- He made few mistakes during his entire presentation.
- A few volunteers stayed late to help clean up.
- Few restaurants in town stay open past midnight.
- She has few regrets about her decision to move abroad.
- There were few dry eyes left after the emotional speech.
- A few students asked thoughtful questions after the lecture.
- He has few close friends but values each one deeply.
- Few reviewers had anything negative to say about the restaurant.
- Few candidates met every requirement listed in the posting.
Examples with “little”
- She has little time left before the deadline.
- There's little hope of finding the missing documents now.
- He showed little interest in the proposed changes.
- We have a little money saved for emergencies.
- There's little water left in the reservoir this summer.
- She has little patience for excuses at work.
- A little rain fell overnight, just enough to settle the dust.
- He offered little explanation for his sudden absence.
- There's a little time before the meeting starts, so let's grab coffee.
- She has little tolerance for dishonesty in any form.
- There's little chance of rain for the rest of the week.
- He had little to say once the evidence was presented.
Memory trick
Picture "few" attached to things you could line up and count, one by one, like apples in a basket. Picture "little" attached to things poured or measured, like water in a glass, resisting being counted individually — a small trickle rather than discrete drops. As a final check, try substituting "several" for the word — if it fits, use "few"; if instead "a small amount" fits better, use "little."