Lesson

Few, little, less, fewer - advanced

Small quantities refined

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Few, little, less, fewer — advanced

This lesson explains advanced uses and nuances of few, little, less, and fewer. You will learn how to choose the correct quantifier with countable and uncountable nouns, understand subtle meaning differences (like negative vs. minimal quantity), and apply comparative forms in professional contexts.

  • Use few / a few with countable plural nouns (e.g., employees, reports).
  • Use little / a little with uncountable nouns (e.g., evidence, time).
  • Use fewer for comparative forms with countable nouns; use less for uncountable amounts.
  • Know the difference in tone: "a few" / "a little" often implies sufficiency; "few" / "little" implies insufficiency or scarcity.

Table

Reference: Usage and examples

Word Use Example
few Countable plural — negative / scarcity Few employees met the new standard.
a few Countable plural — some; often sufficient A few team members volunteered for overtime.
little Uncountable — negative / scarcity There is little evidence to justify the change.
a little Uncountable — some; often sufficient We have a little time to review the proposal.
fewer Comparative for countable nouns Fewer errors were reported this quarter than last quarter.
less Comparative for uncountable amounts (and informal uses like time, money, distance) We spent less on travel this month.

Tip

Key rule: Countable vs. Uncountable

Decide if the noun is countable or uncountable, then choose the correct form. Pay attention to meaning: 'a few'/'a little' often implies enough; 'few'/'little' implies not enough.

  • Countable plural → few / a few / fewer
  • Uncountable → little / a little / less
  • 'Fewer' is used for comparisons with countable nouns (fewer than 10 items).
  • 'Less' is used for amounts, time, money, and general quantities (less time, less money).

When in doubt, ask: Can I count individual units? If yes → countable.

Example

Examples in context

Few applicants met the job requirements.

A few employees volunteered for the pilot project.

There is little evidence to support the new policy.

This quarter we spent less on travel and we had fewer client visits.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

These are frequent errors learners make with few/little/less/fewer. Check your sentence for each point.

  • Using 'less' with clearly countable plural nouns (e.g., "less errors") instead of 'fewer'.
  • Mixing up 'few' and 'a few' or 'little' and 'a little' — they change the meaning (insufficient vs. some).
  • For comparisons, forgetting 'than' after fewer/less (e.g., use 'fewer than 10 reports').
  • Using 'fewer' with uncountable nouns or 'less' with countable nouns without considering idiomatic exceptions.

Always identify whether your noun is countable; then check if you are making a comparison.

Quiz

Choose the correct sentence:

Hint: Decide if the noun can be counted individually.

Quiz

Complete: The department received _____ complaints this week than last week.

Hint: Can you count 'complaints' individually? One complaint, two complaints...

Quiz

Choose the best option to complete the sentence: We need _____ information to make a decision.

Hint: Ask: Is 'information' countable or uncountable?

Key Points

GrammarPoint

few

determiner CEFR B1 //fjuː//

a small number of (countable), often implies scarcity

Few employees met the new standard.

GrammarPoint

a few

determiner CEFR B1 //ə fjuː//

some; a small number of (countable), implies sufficiency

A few team members volunteered for overtime.

GrammarPoint

little

determiner CEFR B1 //ˈlɪtəl//

a small amount of (uncountable), often implies insufficiency

There is little evidence to support the new policy.

GrammarPoint

a little

determiner CEFR B1 //ə ˈlɪtəl//

some; a small amount of (uncountable), implies sufficiency

We have a little time to review the proposal.

GrammarPoint

fewer

determiner/comparative CEFR B2 //ˈfjuːər//

comparative form used with countable nouns to indicate a smaller number

Fewer errors were reported this quarter than last quarter.

GrammarPoint

less

determiner/comparative CEFR B2 //lɛs//

used for uncountable quantities or amounts; comparative for smaller amount

We spent less on travel this month.

GrammarPoint

countable noun

noun CEFR B1 //ˈkaʊntəbl nɔːn//

a noun that can be counted (one report, two reports)

Reports, clients, and employees are countable nouns.