few, a few 与 little, a little 的用法异同

1. few 和 a few 之后接可数名词的复数形式。few 表示数量很少或几乎没有，强调“少”，含有否定意义；a few 表示数量虽然少但毕竟还有，强调“有”，含有肯定意义。比较：

His theory is very difficult, and few people understand it. 他的理论很深奥，没有几个人能懂。

His theory is very difficult, but a few people understand it. 他的理论很深奥，但是有些人懂。

2. little 和 a little 之后接不可数名词，其区别跟 few 和 a few 之间的区别相似。如：

Unfortunately, I had little money on me. 很不巧，我身上没带什么钱。

Fortunately, I had a little money on me. 幸好我身上带着一点钱。

3. 一般说来，在 only, still, can, quite, not 等词之后通常用带有不定冠词的 a few 或 a little，而在 very, some, the, no, so, too 等词之后通常用不带冠词的 few 或 little。如：

He was not a little surprised. 他大为吃惊。

There’s only a little left. 只剩下一点点。

I have so little time to enjoy myself. 我娱乐时间很少。

Very few people understand what he said. 几乎没什么人懂他的话。

4.两者的比较等级变化分别为 few, fewer, fewest (后接可数名词复数)，little, less, least (后接不可数名词)。如：

Who has the fewest mistakes? 谁的错误最少?

He is the best teacher even though he has the least experience. 他尽管经验最少，但教得最好。

You ought to smoke fewer cigarettes and drink less beer. 你应该少抽烟，少喝啤酒。

注：在现代英语的非正式文体中，有时人们也将 less, least 用于复数名词前，不过这种用法有不少人反对，初学者不宜仿用。如(www.yywords.com)：

There are fewer [less] cars on the road at night. 晚上路上的汽车要少些。

5. few 和 little 前除受不定冠词修饰表示肯定意义外，若受其他限定词的修饰也表肯定意义。如：

She was among the few who have read the book. 她是少数读过这本书的人之一。

Her few possessions were sold after her death. 她那点儿财产死后就被卖掉了。

The little of his work that I have seen seems excellent. 我所看到的他那一小部分工作似乎非常出色。

注：a man [person] of few words (沉默寡言的人)是习词，其中的 few 前不用冠词或其他限定词。