Few, little en inglés
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Few, little
Tanto Few como little expresan 'una pequeña cantidad':
• Little (poco) y a little (un poco) preceden los sujetos innumerables:
• Little (poco) y a little (un poco) preceden los sujetos innumerables:
Philip has little time for his wife and kids. Philip tiene muy poco tiempo para su mujer y sus hijos.
Will you have a little milk with your tea? ¿Tomarás un poco de leche con tu té?
I get by with a little help from my friends. Yo me las arreglo con un poco de ayuda de mis amigos. (canción de los Beatles)
You insulted him a little bit! ¡Le insultó un poco!
• Few (pocos, -as) y a few (algunos, -as, unos, -as) acompañan los sujetos numerables:
Few people know the true story of Horatio's youth. Poca gente conoce la verdadera historia acerca de la juventud de Horatio.
The Pope called me a few days ago. El Papa me llamó hace unos días.
There are very few elephants left in the area. Quedan muy pocos elefantes en la zona.
The few of you who did not finish their paper, please go see the principal. Los pocos de ustedes que no terminaron el documento, por favor vayan a ver al director.
Observación: little y few son antónimos de much y many respectivamente.
Tenga cuidado en diferenciar correctamente little/few y a little/a few:
• Sin el artículo, estas palabras acentúan la idea de una cantidad muy pequeña, en ocasiones expresando una noción idea ('muy poco', 'no mucho', o 'demasiado poco');
• Con el artículo a, estas palabras simplemente confirman el hecho de una pequeña cantidad o de un pequeño número:
• Sin el artículo, estas palabras acentúan la idea de una cantidad muy pequeña, en ocasiones expresando una noción idea ('muy poco', 'no mucho', o 'demasiado poco');
• Con el artículo a, estas palabras simplemente confirman el hecho de una pequeña cantidad o de un pequeño número:
I have little money. Tengo muy poco dinero.
I have a little money. Tengo un poco de dinero.
I have a little money. Tengo un poco de dinero.
Bruno has few contacts in the White House. Bruno no tiene muchos contactos en la Casa Blanca.
Bruno has a few contacts in the White House. Bruno tiene algunos contactos en la Casa Blanca.
Bruno has a few contacts in the White House. Bruno tiene algunos contactos en la Casa Blanca.
Polly has little patience for womanizers like Philip Cheeter. Polly no tiene mucha paciencia con los mujeriegos como Philip Cheeter.
Ejercicio 1
Icarus has noticed that there are mistakes in Philip Cheeter's latest sales report. The errors are not very significant, but it frustrates Icarus that very people in the office are as attentive to detail as himself.
Icarus has noticed that there are a few 1 mistakes in Philip Cheeter's latest sales report. The errors are not very significant, but it frustrates Icarus a little 2 that very few 3 people in the office are as attentive to detail as himself.
1 a few: Because 'mistakes' is a countable noun, we use 'a few' to describe it.
1 a little: We only use 'a little' to qualify uncountable nouns. Because 'mistakes' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'a little' to describe it. However, we could say 'Philip made a little mistake in his sales report' which would express that Philip made a 'small' or 'minor' mistake.
2 a little: 'A little' is the best choice here. It describes Icarus' frustration. When we use adjectives such as 'frustrated' we use 'a little' to qualify the adjective. In this sense, the adjective functions as an uncountable idea.
2 a few: We cannot use 'a few' to describe Icarus's frustration. We consider adjectives such as 'frustrated' to be 'uncountable' ideas, and therefore we should use 'a little' to qualify the adjective.
2 few: We cannot use 'few' to describe 'frustration' because it is an uncountable noun.
2 little: We should describe Icarus as 'a little frustrated'. The article 'a' should precede 'little' in this case.
3 few: Because 'people' is a countable noun, we use 'few' to describe it.
3 a few: We cannot use 'a few' in this case because of the adverb 'very'. We must drop the article 'a' and say 'few people'.
3 a little: We only use 'little' to qualify uncountable nouns. Because 'people' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'little' to describe it.
3 little: We only use 'little' to qualify uncountable nouns. Because 'people' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'little' to describe it. Although 'little' is grammatically correct here, using it here describes the stature of the people in the office.
Ejercicio 2
Kevin Connors has minutes of free time before his meeting with his Chinese contact, Mei-Tsing Lee. Because he has time to spare, he turns on the radio to hear the scores of the rugby match between Ireland and France.
Kevin Connors has a few 1 minutes of free time before his meeting with his Chinese contact, Mei-Tsing Lee. Because he has little 2 time to spare, he turns on the radio to hear the scores of the rugby match between Ireland and France.
1 a few: As a rule, we use 'few' instead of 'some' when referring to units of time: a few hours, a few days, a few years. It's an exception, and one of the reasons we have to learn English for a few years to master it!
1 little: We only use 'little' to qualify uncountable nouns. Because 'minutes' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'little' to describe it.
1 some: Even though it's possible to use 'some' with plural countable nouns (Example: I have some cakes), we don't use 'some' with units of time.
2 little: We use 'little' to describe uncountable nouns like 'time'. Note that 'time' is considered an uncountable noun whereas 'times' (as in 'a few times') is considered a countable noun.
2 few: We only use 'few' to qualify countable nouns. Because 'time' is an uncountable noun, we cannot use 'few' to describe it.
2 a lot: 'A lot' is generally followed by 'of' to describe a large amount of something. It does not make sense here.
Ejercicio 3
A hours ago, I received a call from my friend, the President. He told me that everything was going well at the White House, and if I had a free time, I should come over and play ping-pong with him and the other politicians some time.
A few 1 hours ago, I received a call from my friend, the President. He told me that everything was going well at the White House, and if I had a little 2 free time, I should come over and play ping-pong with him and the other politicians some time.
1 few: Because 'hours' is a countable noun, we must use 'a few' to describe it.
1 little: We only use 'little' to qualify uncountable nouns. Because 'hours' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'little' to describe it.
2 little: We use 'little' to describe uncountable nouns like 'time'.
2 few: Because 'time' is an uncountable noun, we cannot use 'few' to describe it.
Ejercicio 4
'Before we end this meeting, I would like to make points:
1. I need volunteers to help me prepare for next week's press conference.
2. We have very information about that new perfume store which just opened. Someone should do research.
3. That's it. Let's eat!'
1. I need volunteers to help me prepare for next week's press conference.
2. We have very information about that new perfume store which just opened. Someone should do research.
3. That's it. Let's eat!'
'Before we end this meeting, I would like to make a few 1 points:
1. I need a few 2 volunteers to help me prepare for next week's press conference.
2. We have very little 3 information about that new perfume store which just opened. Someone should do a little 4 research.
3. That's it. Let's eat!'
1. I need a few 2 volunteers to help me prepare for next week's press conference.
2. We have very little 3 information about that new perfume store which just opened. Someone should do a little 4 research.
3. That's it. Let's eat!'
1 a few: Because 'points' is a countable noun, we use 'a few' to describe it.
1 few: 'Few' is the correct choice to describe a countable noun such as 'points', however we must precede 'few' with the article 'a'.
1 little: We only use 'a little' to qualify uncountable nouns. Because 'points' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'a little' to describe it.
2 a few: Because 'volunteers' is a countable noun, we use 'a few' to describe it.
2 few: 'Few' is the correct choice to describe a countable noun such as 'points', however we must precede 'few' with the article 'a'.
2 little: We only use 'a little' to qualify uncountable nouns. Because 'volunteers' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'a little' to describe it.
3 little: We use 'little' to describe uncountable nouns like 'information'. It is the best choice here.
3 a little: 'Little' is the correct choice to describe an uncountable noun such as 'information', however the noun is already preceded by the adverb 'very', so we cannot use 'very a little information'.
3 few: Because 'information' is an uncountable noun, we cannot use 'few' to describe it.
4 a little: We use 'little' to describe uncountable nouns like 'research'. It is the best choice here.
4 a few: Because 'research' is an uncountable noun, we cannot use 'few' to describe it.
Ejercicio 5
There are people waiting to speak with Bruno, but he is busy talking with Susie. Sometimes his clients grow impatient, but usually Polly gives them candies and they calm down.
There are a few 1 people waiting to speak with Bruno, but he is busy talking with Susie. Sometimes his clients grow a little 2 impatient, but usually Polly gives them a few 3 candies and they calm down.
1 a few: Because 'people' is a countable noun, we use 'a few' to describe it.
1 a little: We only use 'a little' to describe uncountable nouns. Because 'people' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'a little' to describe it.
2 a little: Because 'impatient' is a state, we use 'a little' to describe it.
2 a few: We only use 'a few' when we speak about countable things. Because 'impatient' is not a countable thing, we cannot use 'a few' to describe it.
3 a few: Because 'candies' is a countable noun, we use 'a few' to describe it.
3 a little: We only use 'a little' to describe uncountable nouns (time, money, enjoyment). Because 'candies' is a countable noun, we cannot use 'a little' to describe it.
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