A few vs. A little – English Grammar Exercises for A2
You are calling your family back home to tell them that you have moved in and things are getting better. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to fill in the blank. Pay close attention to whether the noun is countable or uncountable, and remember your goal is to reassure your family that you are doing well.
1 “Don’t worry, Mom. I have already made ______ friends at the university.”
(A) a little
(B) few
(C) a few
(D) much
2 “I am not completely lost. I found ______ nice cafes near my new apartment.”
(A) a few
(B) a little
(C) little
(D) a fews
3 “My roommate is very kind. He gave me ______ help with my heavy boxes today.”
(A) a few
(B) few
(C) many
(D) a little
4 “I am managing my budget well. I still have ______ money left to buy groceries.”
(A) a little
(B) little
(C) a few
(D) much
5 “The neighborhood is safe. I talked to ______ neighbors, and they were very friendly.”
(A) a little
(B) few
(C) a few
(D) much
6 “I am not working all the time. I have ______ free time this weekend to relax.”
(A) a few
(B) a little
(C) little
(D) a fews
7 “My new room is quite cozy now. I bought ______ furniture from a local store.”
(A) a few
(B) few
(C) a little
(D) many
8 “I don’t feel lonely at work. ______ coworkers invited me to have lunch with them.”
(A) A little
(B) A few
(C) Little
(D) Much
9 “The local food is great! I have tried ______ traditional dishes, and they are delicious.”
(A) a few
(B) a little
(C) few
(D) a fews
10 “I am slowly getting used to the transport. I learned ______ useful Spanish words to ask for directions.”
(A) a little
(B) much
(C) little
(D) a few
11 “You don’t need to send me any plates. I brought ______ things from home.”
(A) a little
(B) a few
(C) few
(D) much
12 “I feel much better now because I have ______ confidence about living on my own.”
(A) a few
(B) many
(C) a little
(D) little
13 “The city is quite green. There are ______ beautiful parks where I can go for a run.”
(A) a few
(B) a little
(C) little
(D) a fews
14 “My landlord is very helpful. He gave me ______ good advice about the best supermarkets.”
(A) a few
(B) many
(C) a little
(D) few
15 “I am building a good routine. I unpacked ______ books to read before bedtime.”
(A) a little
(B) little
(C) much
(D) a few
16 “The weather is quite nice today. My bedroom gets ______ sunlight in the morning.”
(A) a few
(B) a little
(C) few
(D) many
17 “I am staying in touch with people. I received ______ welcome messages from the club I joined.”
(A) a few
(B) a little
(C) little
(D) a fews
18 “I am not starving, Dad! I cooked ______ rice and chicken for dinner tonight.”
(A) a few
(B) many
(C) a little
(D) little
19 “To make the balcony look nice, I bought ______ plants from the market today.”
(A) little
(B) a few
(C) a little
(D) much
20 “Things are going well. With ______ luck, I will get that part-time job next week.”
(A) a few
(B) few
(C) a little
(D) many
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C)
Explanation: “Friends” is a plural countable noun. “A few” gives a positive, reassuring meaning. Option (A) is a Common Mistake (using the uncountable quantifier). Option (B) is a Meaning Trap (“few” without “a” means “almost zero,” making the speaker sound lonely and sad, which contradicts “Don’t worry”). Option (D) is a Structural Error.
2 (A)
Explanation: “Cafes” is a plural countable noun. Option (B) is a Common Mistake. Option (C) is a Meaning Trap. Option (D) is a Structural Error (“a fews” does not exist).
3 (D)
Explanation: “Help” is an uncountable noun. Option (A) is a Common Mistake. Option (B) is a Meaning Trap. Option (C) is a Structural Error (many is for countable nouns).
4 (A)
Explanation: “Money” is an uncountable noun. Option (C) is a Common Mistake. Option (B) is a Meaning Trap (“little money” means you are broke and need help). Option (D) is a Structural Error.
5 (C)
Explanation: “Neighbors” is a plural countable noun. Option (A) is a Common Mistake. Option (B) is a Meaning Trap (“few” would mean almost nobody). Option (D) is a Structural Error.
6 (B)
Explanation: “Time” is an uncountable noun. Option (A) is a Common Mistake. Option (C) is a Meaning Trap (“little time” means being too busy, contradicting the positive tone). Option (D) is a Structural Error.
7 (C)
Explanation: “Furniture” is an uncountable noun in English. Option (A) is a Common Mistake (many learners assume furniture is countable). Option (B) is a Meaning Trap. Option (D) is a Structural Error.
8 (B)
Explanation: “Coworkers” is a plural countable noun. Option (A) is a Common Mistake. Option (C) is a Meaning Trap (“Little” cannot be used with countable nouns anyway). Option (D) is a Structural Error.
9 (A)
Explanation: “Dishes” (meals) is a plural countable noun. Option (B) is a Common Mistake. Option (C) is a Meaning Trap. Option (D) is a Structural Error.
10 (D)
Explanation: “Words” is a plural countable noun. Option (A) is a Common Mistake. Option (B) is a Structural Error. Option (C) is a Meaning Trap.
11 (B)
Explanation: “Things” is a plural countable noun. Option (A) is a Common Mistake. Option (C) is a Meaning Trap (saying you brought “few things” means you don’t have enough, so they should send plates). Option (D) is a Structural Error.
12 (C)
Explanation: “Confidence” is an uncountable noun. Option (A) is a Common Mistake. Option (D) is a Meaning Trap (“little confidence” means you are still scared). Option (B) is a Structural Error.
13 (A)
Explanation: “Parks” is a plural countable noun. Option (B) is a Common Mistake. Option (C) is a Meaning Trap. Option (D) is a Structural Error.
14 (C)
Explanation: “Advice” is an uncountable noun in English. Option (A) is a Common Mistake (learners often think they can say “advices” or “a few advice”). Option (B) is a Structural Error. Option (D) is a Meaning Trap.
15 (D)
Explanation: “Books” is a plural countable noun. Option (A) is a Common Mistake. Option (B) is a Meaning Trap. Option (C) is a Structural Error.
16 (B)
Explanation: “Sunlight” is an uncountable noun. Option (A) is a Common Mistake. Option (C) is a Meaning Trap. Option (D) is a Structural Error.
17 (A)
Explanation: “Messages” is a plural countable noun. Option (B) is a Common Mistake. Option (C) is a Meaning Trap. Option (D) is a Structural Error.
18 (C)
Explanation: “Rice” and “chicken” (as a meal) are uncountable nouns. Option (A) is a Common Mistake. Option (D) is a Meaning Trap. Option (B) is a Structural Error.
19 (B)
Explanation: “Plants” is a plural countable noun. Option (C) is a Common Mistake. Option (A) is a Meaning Trap. Option (D) is a Structural Error.
20 (C)
Explanation: “Luck” is an abstract, uncountable noun. Option (A) is a Common Mistake. Option (B) is a Meaning Trap. Option (D) is a Structural Error.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Countable vs. Uncountable Rule: * Use A few ONLY with plural countable nouns (things you can count with numbers, usually ending in “s” like friends, places, cafes, neighbors).
- Use A little ONLY with uncountable nouns (abstract concepts, liquids, or mass nouns like time, help, money, furniture, advice).
- The Power of “A” (Positive Reassurance): * In this context, your goal is to reassure your family that you are doing well. Adding the letter “A” (a few / a little) creates a positive meaning. It means “I have some, and it is enough for now. I am happy.”
- If you remove the “A” (few / little), the grammar might still be correct, but the sentence becomes negative. Saying “I have few friends” or “I have little money” means you are lonely and broke, which would make your family worry! Always use the “A” when you want to look on the bright side.