Page 145 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

f e w
F e w , a afew ( o f ) , l i t t l e , a a l i t t l e ( o f ) , e t c .
Few,
(of),
little
etc.
(of),
little,
(A) few (of), (a) little (of)
(A) few (of), (a) little (of)

positive
negative
positive negative

few close
I've got a few close friends that I
friends
often
and
He has
•
(a) few • ¢ I've got a few close friends that I | * He has few close friends and often
(a) few
lonely.
(used with meet regularly. feels lonely.
feels
(used with
meet regularly.
A few of her songs were popular
very
•
Few of her songs were
plural
plural • ¢ A few of her songs were popular | * Few of her songs were very
countable and she was very well known. popular and eventually she gave
and she was very well known.
popular and eventually she gave
countable
nouns) up her musical career.
up her musical career.
nouns)

There was little work to do, so I
I have to go now, I have a little
(a) little • ¢ I have to go now, I have a little • ¢ There was little work to do, so I
(a) little
much
work to do.
money.
(used with
uncountable • ¢ We had a little money left, so we | * We decided to abandon our trip as

(used with
work to do.
didn't earn much money.
didn't earn
We decided to abandon our trip as
so we
•
We had a little money left,
uncountable
we had little money left.
went out for a meal.
nouns)
we had little money left.
nouns)
went out for a meal.

@We often use a few and a little in a 'positive' way; for example, to talk about a small amount
IiWe often use a few and a little in a 'positive' way; for example, to talk about a small amount or or
quantity, to indicate that this is enough, or suggest that it is more than we would expect.
quantity, to indicate that this is enough, or suggest that it is more than we would expect.
for example, to
suggest that the amount or
We often use few and little in a 'negative' way; for example, to suggest that the amount or
We often use few and little in a 'negative' way;
is surprisingly low. This use of few and little is often rather formal.
quantity is not enough,
quantity is not enough, is surprisingly low. This use of few and little is often rather formal.
We can also use few and little with the, her, my, etc. in a similar 'negative' way:
We can also use few and little with the, her, my, etc. in a similar 'negative' way:
She put her few clothes into a bag, and walked out of the house
for ever.
• ¢ She put her few clothes into a bag, and walked out of the house for ever.
the little time we have available to discuss Jon's proposal.
should use
We
• ¢ We should use the little time we have available to discuss Jon's proposal.
m
:' R “inspeech or informal writing, it is more usual to use not many/much or only a few/little instead
speech or informal writing, it is more usual to use not many/much or only a few/little instead
a bit of in informal speech instead of a little:
use
of few and little, and we often use a bit of in informal speech instead of a little:
of few and little, and we often
I've only got a few things to get.
...got few things...)
I won't be long.
(rather than
• ¢ I won't be long. I've only got a few things to get. (rather than ...got few things...)
(rather than
...I had little time...)
Sorry I haven't finished, I haven't had much time today,
• * Sorry I haven't finished, I haven't had much time today. (rather than ...I had little time...)
a bit of chocolate?
...a
little chocolate?)
Do you want
(rather than
• ¢ Do you want a bit of chocolate? (rather than ...a little chocolate?)
In more formal contexts, such as academic writing, we generally prefer few and little:
In more formal contexts, such as academic writing, we generally prefer few and little:
(rather than ...don't take much...)
The results take little account of personal preference,
• * The results take little account of personal preference. (rather than ...don't take much...)
Less (than), and fewer (than)
Less (than), and fewer (than)
(than) with uncountable nouns and fewer (than) with plural countable nouns:
We use less
We use less (than) with uncountable nouns and fewer (than) with plural countable nouns:
You should have mixed less water with the paint.
• ¢ You should have mixed less water with the paint.
There seemed to
be fewer lorries on the motorway today.
• ¢ There seemed to be fewer lorries on the motorway today.
fewer with plural countable nouns:
However, nowadays many people use less rather than
However, nowadays many people use less rather than fewer with plural countable nouns:
less
(or fewer) than 20 students at the lecture.
There were
• ¢ There were less (or fewer) than 20 students at the lecture.
use is incorrect, especially in formal written English.
But some people think that this
But some people think that this use is incorrect, especially in formal written English.
Few (ofjandiittle (of): than 40 per cent of the electorate voted in the general election.
iWhen we talk about a distance or a sum of money we use less, not fewer:
@When we talk about a distance or a sum of money we use less, not fewer:
Barbara said the beach was twenty miles away, but I thought it was less than that.
© Barbara said the beach was twenty miles away, but I thought it was less than that.
I @
Notice that we use less than or fewer than with percentages:
Notice that we use less than or fewer than with percentages:
(or Fewer)
Less
• ¢ Less (or Fewer) than 40 per cent of the electorate voted in the general election.
We can use no fewer/less than when a quantity or amount is surprisingly large:
We can use no fewer/less than when a quantity or amount is surprisingly large:
The team has had no fewer than ten managers in just five years,
(or ...no less than...)
• ¢ The team has had no fewer than ten managers in just five years. (or ...no less than...)
in the last year,
Profits have increased by no less than 5%
(not ...no fewer than...)
9
• ¢ Profits have increased by no less than 95% in the last year. (not ...no fewer than...)
(see above).
Many people use no less than or no fewer than with plural countable nouns (see above).
Many people use no less than or no fewer than with plural countable nouns
Few (of) and little (of) => [IEEE]