> Other English exercises on the same topics: Idioms | Quantities [Change theme] | |
> Similar tests: - Placement test 1 - Countable or Uncountable? - Some / Any / Much / Many - Some and any - Adverbs of degree - Quantifiers: some, any, no - Countables and uncountables - Few/Little/Less | |
> Double-click on words you don't understand |
Vocabulary: little quantities
We have already studied the determiners expressing a quantity (quantifiers) in a general test:
Yet, experience has shown that it was better to study them little by little in order to limit the
difficulties, which are real, in order to learn these notions better.
Here is the second section of that study!
SMALL QUANTITIES:
So little time... Little money...
Not much/ little + verb |
not very + adjective/ adverb |
Little/ not much + uncountable |
Few/ not many + countable |
A little/ a bit |
A little bit |
A little / a bit of + uncountable |
Some |
Several |
A few+ countable in the plural |
Quite a few |
A few? // few? A few moments...
- I don't go out much.
- He drank very little.
- He's not very sociable.
- I don't want much fish, please!
- He's got few friends/ he hasn't got many friends.
- He's a little bit tired.
- You're driving a little fast/ a bit fast.
- I'll take a little sugar, please.
- a little patience/ a bit of patience.
- some students/ some of the students.
Distinguish between LITTLE QUANTITIES and TOO LITTLE QUANTITIES:
1) LITTLE QUANTITIES :
a little + uncountable noun // a few + countable noun
These little quantities are sufficient.
- I'll have a little milk with my tea, please.
- A few friends were waiting for him at the airport.
A little tired A little salt
2) TOO LITTLE QUANTITIES:
(too little): little + uncountable noun // few + countable noun
These little quantities are insufficient.
- He has little money and can't survive.
- Few inhabitants wanted to stay in this area.
little food to eat... a little time...
Therefore, it's necessary to think a little about the nature ot the word following the determiner.
Will it express a sufficient quantity or not? Will it be a countable noun, or not?
Those are the necessary questions to ask oneself! Go for it!
English exercise "Vocabulary: little quantities" created by here4u with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from here4u]
Click here to see the current stats of this English test
Please log in to save your progress.
End of the free exercise to learn English: Vocabulary: little quantities
A free English exercise to learn English.
Other English exercises on the same topics : Idioms | Quantities | All our lessons and exercises