Few e little in inglese
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Few e little
Few e little indicano entrambi 'una piccola quantità':
• Little e a little precedono i sostantivi non numerabili:
• Little e a little precedono i sostantivi non numerabili:
Philip has little time for his family. Philip ha poco tempo per la famiglia.
Will you have a little milk with your tea? Vuoi un po' di latte nel tè?
I get by with a little help from my friends. Me la caverò con un po' d'aiuto da parte dei miei amici.
You insulted him a little bit! L'hai insultato un po'!
• Few e a few precedono i sostantivi numerabili:
Few people know the true story of Horatio's youth. Pochi conoscono la vera storia della giovinezza di Horatio.
The Pope called me a few days ago. Il Papa mi ha chiamato pochi giorni fa.
There are very few elephants left in the area. Sono rimasti pochissimi elefanti nell'area.
The few of you who did not finish their paper, please go see the principal. I pochi di voi che non hanno finito l'elaborato, sono pregati di presentarsi dal preside.
Nota: little e few sono rispettivamente antonimi dimuch e many.
Attenzione alla differenza tra little/few e a little/a few:
• Senza l'articolo, queste parole sottolineano l'idea di scarsità, spesso con una sfumatura negativa ('non molto', 'quasi nessuno');
• Con l'articolo a, queste parole indicano semplicemente una piccola quantità, un numero esiguo:
• Senza l'articolo, queste parole sottolineano l'idea di scarsità, spesso con una sfumatura negativa ('non molto', 'quasi nessuno');
• Con l'articolo a, queste parole indicano semplicemente una piccola quantità, un numero esiguo:
I have little money. Ho pochi soldi.
I have a little money. Ho un po' di soldi.
I have a little money. Ho un po' di soldi.
Bruno has few contacts in the White House. Bruno non ha molti contatti alla Casa Bianca.
Bruno has a few contacts in the White House. Bruno ha qualche contatto alla White House.
Bruno has a few contacts in the White House. Bruno ha qualche contatto alla White House.
Polly has little patience for womanizers like Philip Cheeter. Polly ha poca pazienza con i donnaioli come Philip Cheeter.
Esercizio 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.
Esercizio 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.
Esercizio 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.
Esercizio 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.
Esercizio 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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