Page 103 - Basic English Usage

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We do not use progressive tenses, but we often use can feel to talk
about a present sensation.
{ can feel something biting me!

‘to think, have an opinion’
Progressive tenses are not used.
| feel that you're making a mistake. (NOT Harteeting .. .)

Copula verb (see 91), used with adjectives
Your hands feel cold onmy skin. {feel fine. | Do you feel happy?
Progressive forms can be used to talk about one’s ‘inside’ feelings.
I’m feeling fine. | Howare you feeling?

129 (a) few and (a) little
We use few with plural nouns, and /ittle with singular (uncountable)
nouns. Compare:
Few politicians are really honest. _ | have little interest in politics.

There is a difference between a few and few, and between a little and little.
Few and little are rather negative: they mean ‘not much/many’. A few and
a little are more positive: their meaning is more like ‘some’. Compare:
His ideas are very difficult, and few people understand them.
( = not many people; hardly any people)
His ideas are very difficult, but a few people understand them.
( = some people — better than nothing)
Cactuses need little water —_ Give the roses a little water every day.

Fewand little (without a) are rather formal. In conversation, we prefer not
many, not much, only a fewor only a little.
Only a few people speak a foreign language perfectly.
Come on! We haven’t got much time!

130 fewer and less
Fewer is the comparative of few (used before plural nouns).
Less is the comparative of little (used before uncountable nouns, which
are singular).
few problems fewer problems little money less money
I've got fewer problems than | used to have.
| earn less money than a postman.
in informal English, some people use /ess with plural words.
I’ve got less problems than | used to have.