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Small quantity, plus the meaning flip when the article is dropped.
Why you specifically
A few và a little đều có nghĩa là “một ít / một vài”, nhưng dùng với loại danh từ khác nhau. A few đi với danh từ đếm được số nhiều: a few books, a few friends, a few questions. A little đi với danh từ không đếm được: a little water, a little time, a little money. Điểm rất quan trọng là có mạo từ a hay không. A few và a little thường mang nghĩa tích cực: “có một ít”, và thường là đủ cho tình huống đó. Few và little không có a thường mang nghĩa tiêu cực: “không nhiều”, “không đủ”. So sánh: I have a few friends = tôi có vài người bạn; I have few friends = tôi có rất ít bạn, nghe hơi buồn và nhấn mạnh là không nhiều. I have a little time = tôi có một chút thời gian; I have little time = tôi có rất ít thời gian. Phân biệt với much và many: many đi với danh từ đếm được số nhiều, much đi với danh từ không đếm được. Nhưng trong câu khẳng định, tiếng Anh thường thích dùng a few và a little hơn much/many. Ví dụ: I have a few friends tự nhiên hơn I have many friends trong giao tiếp hằng ngày. I have a little money tự nhiên hơn I have much money. Much và many rất hay dùng trong câu hỏi và câu phủ định: Do you have many friends? I don’t have much time.
The rule
A few and a little both mean a small quantity, but they are used with different noun types. Use a few with plural countable nouns: a few books, a few friends, a few questions. Use a little with uncountable nouns: a little water, a little time, a little money. The article changes the meaning. A few and a little are usually positive: they mean some, and often enough for the situation. Few and little without a are usually negative: they mean not many or not much. Compare: I have a few friends = some friends; I have few friends = not many friends. I have a little time = some time; I have little time = not much time. This is different from much and many. Many is for plural countable nouns, and much is for uncountable nouns. In positive statements, English often prefers a few and a little instead of many and much. For example, I have a few friends is more natural than I have many friends in everyday speech. I have a little money is more natural than I have much money in everyday speech. Much and many are common in questions and negatives: Do you have many friends? I don’t have much time.
Both correct
Every sentence here is correct English. Only the meaning changes.
I have a few friends.
Có một vài người bạn; nghĩa tích cực, đủ dùng.
I have few friends.
Tôi có rất ít bạn; nghĩa tiêu cực, nhấn mạnh là không nhiều.
We have a little time.
Có một chút thời gian; nghĩa tích cực, đủ một phần nào đó.
We have little time.
Có rất ít thời gian; nghĩa tiêu cực, nhấn mạnh là không đủ nhiều.
The trap
I have few friends in London.
I have a few friends in London.
Use a few before a plural countable noun. It means a small number, but usually enough for the speaker’s purpose.
There is little water in the bottle.
There is a little water in the bottle.
Use a little before an uncountable noun. It means a small amount, but usually enough for the speaker’s purpose.
A few students passed the test.
Few students passed the test.
Few without a before a plural noun is usually negative: not many passed.
A little time was left before the exam.
Little time was left before the exam.
Little without a before an uncountable noun is usually negative: not much time was left.
I have a little questions.
I have a few questions.
A few is used with countable plural nouns, not with singular countable nouns.
We have a few milk.
We have a little milk.
A little is used with uncountable nouns, not with plural countable nouns.
Prove it
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