A little, a few, very little, very few-lesson

Few / a few

A few is more than few.

We use a few and few + a plural countable noun.

few friends, few books, few letters

a few people, a few friends, a few books, a few letters

A few is a positive idea. 

Fortunately, our financial situation is good: we still have a few good customers.

I borrowed a few books from the library.

There were a few people in the pub.

Few is a negative idea. 

It means 'almost none'.

We can also use very few.

I'm very sad: I have few good friends.

I'm very sad: I have very few good friends. 

(Both these sentences mean I don't have many good friends - I would like to have more.)

A few and few have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

few - fewer - the fewest

a few - more - the most

Little / a little

A little is more than little.

We use a little and little + an uncountable noun.

a little time, a little food, a little money

little time, little food, little money

A little is a positive idea. 

It means 'some but not much'.

Compare:

I can help you: I speak a little English.

I ate a little bread and drank a little water.

They had a little time so they went shopping.

Little is a negative idea. 

It means 'nearly none, nearly nothing'.

We can also use very little.

I can't help you. I speak little English. 

I can't help you. I speak very little English.

(Both these sentences mean My English is bad. I would like to speak English better.)

He has little money so he has to spend it carefully. (= almost no money/very little money)

There is little milk in the fridge. Can you get some more?

A little and little have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

little - less - the least

a little - more - the most