English (UK) · Quantities: Much, Many, Few & Little

A Few, A Little, A Lot of

Use these quantifiers in positive sentences:

a few + plural countable nouns: a few minutes, a few friends (a small number, but enough)
a little + uncountable nouns: a little sugar, a little time (a small amount, but enough)
a lot of / lots of + both kinds: a lot of friends, lots of water (a large number or amount)

Without a, few and little have a negative meaning: not enough, less than you want. They often come after very:

Compare: I have a few friends here (I'm happy) and I have very few friends here (I'm lonely).

Examples

I need sugar for this cake. Not much.Show answer

I need a little sugar for this cake. Not much.

There are only people here today.Show answer

There are only a few people here today.

She has friends. She's very popular.Show answer

She has a lot of friends. She's very popular.

Can I ask you quick questions? It won't take long.Show answer

Can I ask you a few quick questions? It won't take long.

We have time before our train, but not much.Show answer

We have a little time before our train, but not much.

Could you wait minutes? I'm nearly ready.Show answer

Could you wait a few minutes? I'm nearly ready.

He drinks water every day, at least eight glasses.Show answer

He drinks a lot of water every day, at least eight glasses.

Just milk in my tea, please.Show answer

Just a little milk in my tea, please.

We're going away for days next week.Show answer

We're going away for a few days next week.

I speak Spanish, enough to order in a restaurant.Show answer

I speak a little Spanish, enough to order in a restaurant.