Welcome to your two-minute tip, a short, practical English lesson for your busy day.
Learn it in two minutes.
Use it for years.
When should you use little versus few?
Little means almost none, and it has a negative connotation.
It's used with uncountable nouns.
For example, I have little time today.
I'm very busy.
A little means some, and that has a positive connotation.
It's also used for uncountable nouns.
For example, I have a little time after lunch, enough for a short meeting.
Few means almost none.
That has a negative connotation.
It's used with countable nouns.
For example, few students passed the exam.
That's not a good thing.
A few means some and has a positive connotation.
It's used with countable nouns.
For example, I have a few books you can borrow, enough to be useful.
Let's review.