Grammar › Nouns & Determiners › A few, A little & Enough
A few, A little & Enough
Small-quantity words depend on the noun and on whether the sense is positive or negative:
- a few / a little — a small, positive amount (a few eggs, a little milk).
- few / little — a negative 'almost none' (few options, little hope).
- enough — as much/many as needed, for both (enough time, enough seats).
'a few/few' go with countable plurals; 'a little/little' go with uncountables. 'Enough' goes before the noun (enough money) or after an adjective (warm enough).
a few, a little, few, little, enough
| Word | Goes with | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| a few | countable plural | a small, positive amount | a few friends |
| a little | uncountable | a small, positive amount | a little milk |
| few | countable plural | almost none (negative) | few people came |
| little | uncountable | almost none (negative) | little hope |
| enough | both | as much/many as needed | enough chairs, enough time |
When to use each
1. a few / a little — enough, positive
- I have a few questions. Add a little salt.
2. few / little — not enough, negative
- Few students passed. There’s little time left.
3. enough — the right amount
- Are there enough seats? We don’t have enough money. It’s warm enough.
⚠️ Position of ‘enough’: before a noun (enough food) but after an adjective/adverb (big enough, soon enough).
Common mistakes
1. ‘a few’ with an uncountable noun. a few water → a little water.
2. ‘a little’ with a countable noun. a little books → a few books.
3. ‘enough’ after the noun. money enough → enough money (but old enough is correct). Pro tip: a few/a little = a positive small amount; few/little = a negative ‘hardly any’.
✏️ Practice: A few, A little & Enough
1. Add ___ salt to the soup.
2. I have ___ friends I can rely on.
3. ___ people came, so the room felt empty. (negative)
4. There's ___ hope of finding it now. (negative)
5. Are there ___ chairs for everyone?
6. We don't have ___ money for a holiday.
7. He's not ___ to drive yet.
8. Would you like ___ more coffee?
9. Correct this: 'I have a few informations for you.'
10. What's the difference between 'a few' and 'few'?
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between 'a few' and 'few'?
'A few' is positive — a small amount that's enough (I have a few friends here). 'Few' is negative — almost none (Few people understood).
A little or a few?
'A little' with uncountable nouns (a little water); 'a few' with countable plurals (a few coins).
How is 'enough' used?
Before a noun (enough food) and after an adjective or adverb (old enough, quickly enough). It means 'as much/many as needed'.
Does 'little' sound negative?
Yes: 'little time' stresses there isn't much. To sound positive, use 'a little': 'We still have a little time.'
👩🏫 For teachers
CEFR objectives for “A few, A little & Enough”:
- Can use 'a few/a little' for positive small amounts and 'few/little' for negative ones (CEFR B1).
- Can match 'a few/few' to countable and 'a little/little' to uncountable nouns.
- Can use 'enough' before nouns and after adjectives/adverbs.
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