Few, a Few, Little, a Little, Fewer, Less, the Fewest, the Least.

 

1. Study the rule.

 

(A)  few is used with plural countable nouns. (A)  little is used with uncountable nouns.   We use a few and a little in a ‘positive’ way. e.g. A few customers have come into the shop. It has been fairly busy.        Mary has made a little progress and so she’s feeling quite pleased.    We use few and little in a “negative’ way. e.g. Few customers have come into the shop. It has been quiet.        Mary has made little progress and she isn’t feeling very pleased.   We use less, the least with uncountable nouns and fewer, the fewest with plural countable nouns.   When we talk about a distance or a sum of money we use less, not fewer. e.g. Barbara said the beach was twenty miles away, but I thought it was less than that.   Less and least can also be used with adjectives and adverbs.

 

2. Complete these sentences using little or few, a little or a few.

 

A)   1.  He is very successful even though he has very __________ education.

      2.  __________ people really understood what the lecture was about.

      3.  Diana tried hard but she was __________ help.

      4.  He made so __________ exams that he came top in the exam.

      5.  I can’t do much I’m afraid. I have so __________ time.

B)  1.  Would you like _________ cake?

     2.  I have to see __________ people in the afternoon.      

     3.  Could you give me __________ help?

     4.  I don’t know the answer, but I’ve got __________ ideas.

     5.  He spread __________ honey on a slice of bread.

 

3. Put in a few, few, a little, little.

 

1. I don’t think I can lift this box on my own. I need __________ help.
2. __________ tourists visited Northern Ireland in the 1980s because of the terrorism there.
3. The postman doesn’t often come here. We receive __________ letters.
4. The snow was quite deep. There seemed __________ hope in completing our journey.
5. Trevor isn’t finding it easy to fix the shelves. He’s having __________ trouble.
6. Jack is usually very helpful but he had __________ advice for us this time.
7. __________ unskilled jobs are well paid, but not very much.
8. I was tired and hungry, but fortunately I had __________ money left.
9. Sarah is exhausted. She’s having __________ days’ holiday next week.
10. David quite likes golf, but unfortunately he has __________ ability.
11. I can speak __________ words of Swedish, but I’m not very fluent.
12. He’s an expert on languages, but he knows very __________ about mathematics.
13. I have __________ time for anything but work.
14. I took plenty of sugar and __________ milk.
15. When I’m busy, I always do __________ work before breakfast.
16. I come home so tired that I can do __________ little work in the evenings.
17. Jack is very helpful. He’s sure to have __________ good ideas.
18. I usually do __________ jobs for him in the house.
19. If you can spare me __________ time, I’d like to make __________ suggestions.

 

4. Put in less/the least/fewer/the fewest.

 

1. I’ve got __________ money than I thought.
2. Of all my friends, Jake does __________ work.
3. There were __________ problems than we expected.
4. Ann was the person who made the __________ mistakes in the test.
5. Mary’s is __________ shy than Pat.
6. It was __________ successful party we’d given.
7. He drives __________ carefully than I expected.
8. Of all British cars, this one uses __________ petrol. It also needs __________ repairs.
9. __________ girls than boys do mathematics at university.
10. As the years went by, they had __________ things to say, and __________ interest in talking to each other.
11. I feel __________ optimistic about future than I did a year ago.
12. Do you want more time and __________ money, or more money and __________ time?
13. Liz is very clever, but she has got __________ self-confidence of anyone I know.
14. I’ve had __________ days off work of anybody in the office.
15. My home town is __________ dangerous place I know. 

 

5. Insert the proper words.

 

1. We have imported __________ videos this year than last year.
2. There has been __________ demand for videos this year than last years.
3. There seemed to be __________ lorries on the motorway today.
4. Which method will cause __________ difficulty?
5. He doesn’t speak much French, only __________ words.
6. There is a shortage of water because there has been very __________ rain.
7. According to the survey in British universities __________ students smoke now than in 1970.
8. Many questions were asked, but __________ were answered.
9. I’d like __________ milk in this coffee, please.
10. There isn’t ___________ time to waste.
11. We’ve hardly had __________ trouble with this machine.
12. Cactuses need __________ water.
13. It is __________ use trying to change her mind.
14. Could you possibly give me __________ help?
15. I only need __________ minutes to get ready.
16. Give the roses __________ water every day.
17. Which method will cause ___________ problems?
18. Statistics show that nowadays people drink __________ beer and smoke __________ cigarettes than they used to.
19. How much have you got left? - $30, may be __________.
20. I was the youngest so I always got __________ pocket money.

 

6. Read the following information about two cars. Then compare the Saloon with the GT.

 

The Saloon. 2 doors 4 seats acceleration: 0-100 in 12 seconds petrol consumption: 20 km to the litre 4 gears choice of colours: red, blue, grey extras: cigarette lighter, radio

The GT 4 doors 6 seats acceleration: 0-100 in 7 seconds petrol consumption: 14 km to the litre 5 gears choice of colours: red, black, red, silver extras: cigarette lighter, radio, cassette player, electric windows, air-conditioning