Few, little en anglais : grammaire anglaise / définition
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Few, little
Few et little expriment tous les deux une idée de petite quantité :
• Little (peu de) et a little (un peu de) précèdent les noms indénombrables :
• Little (peu de) et a little (un peu de) précèdent les noms indénombrables :
Philip has little time for his wife and kids. Philip n'accorde pas beaucoup de temps à sa femme et ses enfants.
Will you have a little milk with your tea? Voulez-vous un peu de lait dans votre thé ?
I get by with a little help from my friends. Je me débrouille avec un petit peu d'aide de mes amis. (chanson des Beatles)
You insulted him a little bit! Vous l'avez un petit peu insulté !
• Few (peu de) et a few (quelques) accompagnent les noms dénombrables :
Few people know the true story of Horatio's youth. Peu de gens connaissent la véritable histoire de la jeunesse d'Horatio.
The Pope called me a few days ago. Le Pape m'a appelé il y a quelques jours.
There are very few elephants left in the area. Il n'y a plus beaucoup d'éléphants dans le coin.
The few of you who did not finish their paper, please go see the principal. Ceux d'entre vous qui n'ont pas fini leur dissertation, adressez-vous au principal.
Remarque : little et few s'opposent respectivement à much et many.
Attention à bien distinguer little/few et a little/a few :
• Sans article, ils accentuent l'idée de très petite quantité, exprimant souvent une idée négative ('vraiment très peu', 'pas beaucoup', voire 'trop peu') ;
• Avec l'article a, ils expriment simplement le constat de petite quantité ou de petit nombre :
• Sans article, ils accentuent l'idée de très petite quantité, exprimant souvent une idée négative ('vraiment très peu', 'pas beaucoup', voire 'trop peu') ;
• Avec l'article a, ils expriment simplement le constat de petite quantité ou de petit nombre :
I have little money. Je n'ai vraiment pas beaucoup d'argent.
I have a little money. J'ai un petit peu d'argent.
I have a little money. J'ai un petit peu d'argent.
Bruno has few contacts in the White House. Bruno n'a pas beaucoup de contacts à la Maison Blanche.
Bruno has a few contacts in the White House. Bruno a quelques contacts à la Maison Blanche.
Bruno has a few contacts in the White House. Bruno a quelques contacts à la Maison Blanche.
Polly has little patience for womanizers like Philip Cheeter. Polly n'a pas beaucoup de patience avec les dragueurs comme Philip Cheeter.
Exercice 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.
Exercice 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.
Exercice 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.
Exercice 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.
Exercice 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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