At a glance
Small amounts
- Countable: how many?books, friends
- a few = some I have a few friends.
- few = not many He has few friends.
- fewer, the fewestfewer cars
- Uncountable: how much?milk, time
- a little = some There's a little milk.
- little = almost none There's little hope.
- less, the leastless time
- Start
- Can you count it (books, apples)?Yesfew / a few / fewera few apples
- little / a little / lessa little water
A few or few?
I have a few cookies. Let's share!
I have few cookies. Not enough!
A little or little?
There's a little milk. I can make tea.
There's little milk. We must buy some.
Fewer or less?
There are fewer cars on Sundays. (countable)
I earn less money now. (uncountable)
Many, much and more
| Countable (plural) | Uncountable | Both |
|---|---|---|
| many, a few, few, fewer | much, a little, little, less | a lot of, lots of, plenty of |
| a number of, several | an amount of, a great deal of | some, any, no, most, all, enough |
| a couple of | a bit of | more |
- A number of + plural verb: A number of students are absent.
- The number of + singular verb: The number of students is thirty.
Practice
Answer the questions. Get 7 out of 10 to finish this lesson.