How do you use "(a) few / (a) little" in a sentence?

Few people came. (not many—disappointing) A few people came. (some—enough) I have little time. (not much) I have a little time. (some time)

(a) few / (a) little

Q: What does "(a) few / (a) little" mean?

Small quantities with different meanings 'Few' (countable) and 'little' (uncountable) = not many/much (negative). 'A few' and 'a little' = some, enough (positive). The article 'a' changes the meaning from negative to positive.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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含义: Small quantities with different meanings

具有不同含义的小量表达

Cantidades pequeñas con diferentes significados

異なる意味を持つ少量の表現

의미가 다른 소량 표현

'Few' (countable) and 'little' (uncountable) = not many/much (negative). 'A few' and 'a little' = some, enough (positive). The article 'a' changes the meaning from negative to positive.

'Few'（可数）和'little'（不可数）= 不多（否定含义）。'A few'和'a little' = 一些，足够的（肯定含义）。冠词'a'将含义从否定变为肯定。

'Few' (contable) y 'little' (incontable) = no muchos/mucho (negativo). 'A few' y 'a little' = algunos, suficiente (positivo). El artículo 'a' cambia el significado de negativo a positivo.

「Few」（可算）と「little」（不可算）= あまりない（否定的）。「A few」と「a little」= いくつか、十分（肯定的）。冠詞の「a」が意味を否定から肯定に変えます。

'Few' (가산명사)와 'little' (불가산명사) = 많지 않은/별로 없는 (부정적). 'A few'와 'a little' = 약간, 충분한 (긍정적). 관사 'a'가 의미를 부정에서 긍정으로 바꿉니다.

例句

Few people came. (not many—disappointing)
很少有人来。'（不多——令人失望）
Poca gente vino.' (no muchos, decepcionante)
ほとんど人が来ませんでした。'（少ない——残念）
사람이 거의 오지 않았어요. (많지 않은—실망스러운)
A few people came. (some—enough)
有几个人来了。'（一些——足够）
Unas pocas personas vinieron.' (algunos, suficientes)
何人か来ました。'（少し——十分）
몇 명이 왔어요. (조금—충분한)
I have little time. (not much)
我时间不多。'（不多）
Tengo poco tiempo.' (no mucho)
時間がほとんどありません。'（あまりない）
시간이 거의 없어요. (많지 않은)
I have a little time. (some time)
我有一点时间。'（一些时间）
Tengo un poco de tiempo.' (algo de tiempo)
少し時間があります。'（ある程度の時間）
시간이 좀 있어요. (어느 정도의 시간)

发音

用法指南

语境: spoken, written, everyday

语气: descriptive

✓ 正确说法

I have a few questions.
我有几个问题。
Tengo algunas preguntas.
いくつか質問があります。
질문이 몇 개 있어요.
There's a little milk left.
还剩一点牛奶。
Queda un poco de leche.
牛乳が少し残っています。
우유가 조금 남아 있어요.
Very few people know this.
很少有人知道这个。
Muy poca gente sabe esto.
これを知っている人はほとんどいません。
이것을 아는 사람은 극히 드물어요.
A little money...
一点钱……
Un poco de dinero...
少しのお金が…
약간의 돈...
Little water...
几乎没有水……
Poca agua...
水がほとんどない…
물이 거의 없는...

✗ 错误说法

I have few questions. (sounds negative)
I have few questions.（听起来是否定的）
I have few questions. (suena negativo)
I have few questions.（否定的に聞こえる）
I have few questions.（부정적으로 들림）
A few money... (use 'a little money')
A few money...（用'a little money'）
A few money... (se usa 'a little money')
A few money...（「a little money」を使う）
A few money...（'a little money'를 사용）
Few water... (use 'little water')
Few water...（用'little water'）
Few water... (se usa 'little water')
Few water...（「little water」を使う）
Few water...（'little water'를 사용）

起源与历史

Quantity expressions

文化背景

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal