My friends, checking out your answers on my grammar tests and reading your blogs, I noticed many of you not know the difference between FEW and A FEW, LITTLE and A LITTLE. Besides, one of our learners asked me to post the blog about these confusing words. So, today I will tell you about them.

I believe you all know  we use many/few/a few with countable nouns while we use much/little/a little with non-countable ones. These words as well as some others (a couple, some, several, a number of, a lot of, a great many) define some quantities and you might be interested in how many or how much it is. However, there is no hard-and-fast answer. Those quantities may be different for different people in different situations. So, I will tell you what I mean using these words.

Let’s consider the words we use with countable nouns as it is easier to demonstrate the difference.

A couple. Sure, the word means two but not necessarily exactly two. We may mean 2, 3 and even four.

I will be rather free for a couple days (I may mean 2-3 days).

A few. It is more than two. It is usually 3 or 4 but may be more in some situations.  Of course, it means not many, but at least some.

I still have a few cigarettes (I mean I don’t have to rush to the store immediately, I still have 3-4).

Several. It is usually up to 5 but may be more. Everything depends on the context.  Anyway, SEVERAL is more than A FEW. Going on with my example with cigarettes, SEVERAL will mean 4-5. However speaking about the world, a few countries may mean from 10 to 20, while several countries may mean 40-50.

Some. If fact, it is not a good idea to use it with countable nouns meaning a few/several as it may sound like something/somebody unknown. For example:

There are some people in my backyard. (It is hard to say what I mean: either a few people or some unknown people.  Most probably, it means the last).

As to quantities, SOME may mean the same as A FEW or SEVERAL.

A number of. It is indeterminate. I think it is more than two or three. Well, I can say:

A number of my students are very capable and painstaking (I mean a few dozens).

A lot of/many. It means the great number. It is obviously more than 5 but less than infinity. If I say:

Many/a lot of my students are very capable and painstaking

I will mean most of them or, at least, more than 50 %.

If I say the same about cigarettes, I will mean that I have enough for a few days or a week. I don’t think about buying them now.

Quite a few.  It is an American expression that means RATHER MANY. It is less than many, but quite enough. Back to my example with cigarettes. If I say, I have quite a few of them I mean I surely have enough for today.

A great many. It means the very great number. Here is an appropriate example:

A great many people learn English all over the world.

Few. It means not many, not enough, less than I need or have expected. Examples:

I have few cigarettes. I have to buy some right away.

Few people came to the meeting and there was no quorum.

It is not that easy to demonstrate much/quite a bit/little /a little but they mean the same quantities being used with non-countable nouns. I will use all of them in the same example about gas.

I have much/a lot of gas, I have just had my car filled up (I have a full tank).

I have quite a bit of gas, I had my car filled up yesterday (the talk is almost full).

I still have a little gas (I will get to the place of destination).

I have little gas, I must have my car filled to get to the place of destination.

And now, I will be happy to see your examples and to answer your questions as usual.

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Comments

  • thanks Mr. Danny for sharing with us. I really hope I can be master in english both in grammar and conversation :) 

  • Yes, dear Rose, you are right. LOTS is just less formal

  • By the way, Danny I read Onee-chan's question in terms of  A LOT  and  LOTS

    I know, it means the same. 

    So we can say:

    1. There are a lot of mistakes in your writing.

    2. There are lots of mistakes in your writing.

    I think if we use to write of "a lot", is it more formal than "lots" because "lots" is an informal expression. Do I think so correctly?

  • Thanks for your corrections, dear Danny. You were not too tough. I was busy, that's all.

    Your corrections are clear.

    Of course, I know you can't be merciful ... I was just joking.

  • Dear Rose, happy to see you on my page again! I thought I was too tough as usual. Well, I can't be merciful as a teacher because you should know your mistakes. On the other hand, I am always ready to explain them. Here are my corrections.

    Of the great many people__ learning English all over the world are quite a few members here on EC.
    A great number (many) of those members have never participated in the tests and challenges or __ have written any blogs. The most members are not native English speakers. There are many native_ EC members but only some of them are interested in supporting others. A great many of them are just interested in chatting and only a few of them correct mistakes in conversations.

    Several times Danny told us to use the grammar rules correctly. He's one of the natives who helps us __ make progress. He has much patience with us.
    Sometimes I was a little out of gas after I had done his tests. But I don't throw up in the towel, I always do my best to improve my English skills. I am always quite disappointed with myself when I get Danny's comments. Sometimes I make a lot of mistakes, sometimes just a few. I know even a few mistakes are still too many.

    I know I have used some expressions several times but it doesn't matter. I hope I have used everything correctly.

    I'm going to have some water because thinking made me a little thirsty. (LOL)

    Then I will be going shopping because there are only a few eggs (or “are few eggs”) in my fridge, no butter, only a little milk and some vegetables, so my fridge needs filling. I haven’t been buying any groceries and beverages since Monday ... those are already a couple days.
    Before I can buy anything I have to withdraw a little money from the cash machine. 

    Now I hope I did not make too many mistakes.

  • Hello dear Danny,

    I tried again to write sentences: Thanks in advance for your corrections.

    From the great many people which learn English all over the world are quite a few members here on EC.
    A high number of those members never have participated in tests and challenges and also they never have written blogs. The most members are none native English speakers. There are many natives EC-members but only some of them are interested in the support of others. A great many of them are just interested in chatting and only few of them correct mistakes in conversations.

    Danny told us several times to use the grammar rules correctly. He's one of the natives who helps us to get progress. He has much patience with us.
    Sometimes I was a little out of gas after I made his tests. But I don't throw in the towel, I always give my best to improve my English skills. I am always quite disappointed about myself when I get Danny's comments. Sometimes I made a lot of mistakes, sometimes just a few. I know even only few mistakes are still too many.

    I know I have used some expressions several times but it doesn't matter. I hope I have used everything correctly.

    I'm going to drink some water because thinking made me a little thirsty. (LOL)

    Then I'm going to go shopping because there are only few eggs in my fridge, no butter, only a little milk and some vegetables, so my fridge needs filling. I didn't buy groceries and beverages since Monday ... those are already a couple days.
    Before I can buy anything I have to withdraw a little money from the cash machine.

    Now I hope I did not make too many mistakes.
    Danny, please be merciful ... hahaha, a childish wish ... because it's me who has to be responsible for her own mistakes.

  • Dear Onee, I see no difference

  • If I'm not mistaken, you ever told us about LOTS and A LOT.  Is LOTS more than A LOT? 

    Thank you, Sir. ^_^

  • I really need this explanation, indeed. 

    Thanks a lot, Teacher Dan. I will comment again if I have a question or examples. :)

  • Dear Expector, I can't tell you why, but both sound good for me. I think "of" is OK as there are two nouns in a row. On the other hand, we can say "many people" and "many of us"

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