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Tema 4. A Few A Little Few and Little. Exercises

1. The document discusses the differences between the expressions "a little/a few" and "little/few". "A little/a few" imply a positive, small quantity while "little/few" suggest a negative, limited amount. 2. It provides examples of how to use countable vs. uncountable nouns correctly with "a little" and "a few". Uncountable nouns take "a little" while countable nouns take "a few". 3. The article "a" makes "a little/a few" more positive, suggesting "some" or "better than nothing". Without the article, "little/few" have a limiting or negative meaning

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675 views4 pages

Tema 4. A Few A Little Few and Little. Exercises

1. The document discusses the differences between the expressions "a little/a few" and "little/few". "A little/a few" imply a positive, small quantity while "little/few" suggest a negative, limited amount. 2. It provides examples of how to use countable vs. uncountable nouns correctly with "a little" and "a few". Uncountable nouns take "a little" while countable nouns take "a few". 3. The article "a" makes "a little/a few" more positive, suggesting "some" or "better than nothing". Without the article, "little/few" have a limiting or negative meaning

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wayiqtol
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Tema 4.

Use of a little, a few, little and few

1. The expressions a little and a few mean some. They describe the quantity in a positive way. - We use (a) little with singular (usually uncountable) words. Example: A little money I've got a little money (= I've got enough to live on)

- We use (a) few with plurals (usually countable).


Example: A few friends I've got a few friends (= maybe not many, but enough)

Countable and uncountable nouns:

- Countable nouns have a singular and a plural form. In plural, these nouns can be
used with a number (that's why they are called 'countable nouns'). Countable nouns take a few. Example: 4 friends a few friends

- Uncountable nouns can only be used in singular. These nouns cannot be used with
a number (that's why they are called 'uncountable nouns'). Uncountable nouns take a little. Example: 3 money a little money

Note: Of course you can count money, but then you would name the currency and say that you have got 3 euro (but not, 3 money).

2. There is a difference between a little and little, and between a few and few. - With the article, a little and a few are more positive, their meaning is generally closer to some. They can often sugest ideas like better than nothing or more than expected Examples: Would you like a little soup? You dont need to go shopping? Weve got a few potatoes and some steak.

- Without the article, little and few usually have a limiting or rather negative meaning. They may suggest not as much/many as one would like, not as much/many as expected, and similar ideas.

A little / a few = some Little / few = hardly any

Examples: I need a little money. - I need some money. I need little money. - I need hardly any money. A few friends visited me. - Some friends visited me. Few friends visited me. - Hardly any friends visited me. Few people visited him in hospital (= he had almost no visitors) He had little money (= almost no money) Note: Without the article , little / few sound rather formal. That's why we don't use them very often in everyday English. A negative sentence with much / many is more common here. Example: I need little money. = I do not need much money. Few friends visited me. = Not many friends visited me. 3. We use (a) little of and (a) few of before a pronoun or determiner. (A) little of + it / this / yours etc. (A) few of + us / you / mine etc. (A) little / few of + determiner + noun. Examples: Few people can say that they always tell the truth. Few of us can say that we always tell the truth. Could I try a little wine? Could I try a little of your wine? Only a few children like maths. Only a few of the children in this class like maths.

Complete the sentences. Use a few, a little, few, little.

1.
It's good.

I've been to that Spanish restaurant ___________ times. I've got 20 Euros and ___________ coins. That should be enough for tonight.

2. 3.
couple of chapters.

I've only read ___________ the book so far- just the first Very ___________ people went to see that film. I don't know why. It's excellent.

4. 5.
and be happy again.

With time and ___________ patience, you'll forget her

6.
It's such a shame.

___________ people ever learn how to dance properly.


Dress the salad with salt, pepper and ___________ olive oil.

7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
It's good for you.

He's not a good teacher. He's unimaginative and has very

___________ patience with children.


I have ___________ time for people who talk about themselves all the time and never listen to anyone else.

___________
don't really like most of their music.

that group's songs are excellent but I

I normally have ___________ red wine with my lunch.

12. 13.
sad.

His

computer

needs

cleaning.

He

takes

very

___________ care of it. ___________ people came to see the play. It was rather
The bus service isn't very good at night - there are

14. 15.
empty.

___________ buses after 6 o'clock.


There was ___________ food in the fridge. It was nearly We made good time because there was ___________ traffic so early in the morning. Let's go and have a drink. We've got ___________ time before school starts.

16. 17.

18.
enjoy ourselves a lot.

She has ___________ friends at the seaside, and we

19. 20.
angry.

___________ people can speak two languages perfectly.


She has got ___________ patience. She always gets

21.
___________

Do you have any friends in Portsmouth? - Yes, I have got

22.
shopping.

I have ___________

time tomorrow, we could go

23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.

You didn't go to the pub, did you? - I'm afraid I did, but I only had ___________ drinks, honestly. When I go to the country, I always get bored because there's ___________ to do. Do you mind if I ask you ___________ questions? This town is not a very interesting place to visit, so

___________ tourists come here.


'Sandra is fluent in Italian, French and Spanish.' 'It's quite rare; _________ people can speak several foreign languages.' At home, the kitchen was a pleasant place. There were always ___________ flowers in a vase. Could we have ___________ champagne, please? They live in a very small flat because they have

___________ money.

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