1. 從所修飾的名詞來看:(a) few后接可數(shù)名詞,且要用復(fù)數(shù)形式;(a) little后接不可數(shù)名詞。如:
We had little time to do it. 我們沒什么時間做此事。
There’s only a little soup left. 只剩下一點兒湯了。
He has few friends. 他朋友很少。
I’ll only be away a few minutes. 我只離開幾分鐘。
2. 從所表示的意思來看:上面提到,兩者均可表示數(shù)量,其主要區(qū)別是,(a) few后接可數(shù)名詞,(a) little后接不可數(shù)名詞。但是,(a) little還可表示大小。如:
Please accept this little gift.請接受這件小小的禮物。
There are several little towns along the river. 沿河有幾個小鎮(zhèn)。
注意體會下面兩句,前面的little表示形狀或個子“小”,后面的little表示數(shù)量“少”:
The little boy is very busy. He has little time to play. 這個小男孩很忙,他很少有時間玩。
It’s a little animal. It eats only a little food. 那是一個小動物,它只吃一點點食物。
3. 從各自的詞性來看:在詞性方面,兩者的共同點是,均可用作形容詞或代詞;其不同點是,(a) little 還可用作副詞,用以修飾形容詞、副詞、動詞以及介詞短語。如:
He is a little tired. 他有點累了。
They are a little bit better now. 現(xiàn)在他們稍好一點了。
You should walk a little faster. 你應(yīng)該走快一點。
She was only a little over fifty years old.她才五十多一點。
二、有 a 與沒有 a 的區(qū)別
不帶 a 的little和few 含有否定意義,表示數(shù)量很少或幾乎沒有,強調(diào)“少”;帶有a 的little和few含有肯定意義,表示數(shù)量雖然少但畢竟還有,強調(diào)“有”。比較:
Few people like such things. 沒什么人喜歡那樣的東西。
A few people like such things. 有少數(shù)人喜歡那樣的東西。
He knows little English. 他幾乎不懂英語。
He knows a little English. 他懂一點點英語。
注意,當(dāng)few前不帶 a,但帶有the, some these, those等修飾語時,也表示肯定意義。如:
Some few have already left. 有幾個已經(jīng)離開了。
The last few winters have been very cold.過去幾個冬天都很冷。
The first few chapters are about his early days.前幾章談他的少年時期。
三、思維拓展
注意兩者比較級和最高級的用法及區(qū)別:little的比較級和最高級分別為less和least,few的比較級和最高級分別為fewer和fewest。如:
Boys think less about dress than girls do. 男孩子不像女孩子那樣愛打扮。
He has the least money of all of us. 他是我們大家中錢最少的。
Fewer radios were sold this year than last. 今年賣掉的收音機(jī)比去年少。
He tried to finish the work with least money and fewest people. 他設(shè)法要用最少的錢和最少的人去完成這項工作。