A little and a few are more positive. A little = some, a small amount:

• Let's go and have a drink. We've got a little time before the train leaves.

(a little time = some time, enough time to have a drink)

• 'Do you speak English? 'A little.' (so we can talk a bit)

A few = some, a small number:

• I enjoy my life here. I have a few friends and we meet quite often,

(a few friends = not many but enough to have a good time)

• 'When did you last see Clare? 'A few days ago.' (= some days ago)

Compare:

• He spoke little English, so it was difficult to communicate with him.

  He spoke a little English, so we were able to communicate with him.

• She's lucky. She has few problems. (= not many problems)

Things are not going so well for her. She has a few problems. (= some problems)

Note that 'only a little' and ' only a few' have a negative meaning:

We must be quick. We’ve only got a little time.

The village was very small.  There were only a few houses.

Put in little/ a little/ few/a few:

Intermediate
English exercise "Little, a little, few and a few." created by felin (08-11-2005) with The test builder
Click here to see the current stats of this English test

1. We must be quick. We have a few a little few little time
2. Listen carefully. I'm going to give you a few a little few little advice
3. Do you mind if I ask you a few a little few little questions?
4. This town is not a very interesting place to visit, so a few a little few little tourists come here.
5. I don't think Jill would be a good teacher. She's got a few a little few little patience.
6. ' Would you like milk in your coffe?' Yes please. a few a little few little .
7. This is a very boring place to live. There's a few a little few little to do.
8. 'Have you ever been to Paris?'' Yes, I've been there a few a little few little times.
9. He has a few a little few little money left.
10. He has a few a little few little dollars left.