Virtuous English AcademyA Little, A Few, Too and Enough (A2)
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A little and a few describe small amounts, while too and enough describe more than or the right amount. This lesson shows how each works with countable and uncountable nouns.
This lesson covers the quantifiers that describe small amounts and the words that judge whether an amount is right. A little and a few say there is a small quantity. Too much and too many say there is more than you want. Enough says the amount is sufficient. Together they let you evaluate quantity rather than just report it.
A few and a little split by countability in exactly the same way as many and much. A few goes with plural countable nouns — a few friends, a few minutes. A little goes with uncountable nouns — a little sugar, a little time. The pattern is consistent across the whole quantifier system.
The most important nuance here is the article. A few and a little are positive: they mean some, enough to matter. Drop the article and the meaning flips to negative: few and little mean almost none. I have a few friends is reassuring; I have few friends is not.
How to form A Little, A Few, Too and Enough
| Expression | Noun type | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| a few | plural countable | some, a small number | I have a few questions. |
| a little | uncountable | some, a small amount | Add a little salt. |
| few | plural countable | almost none (negative) | Few people came. |
| little | uncountable | almost none (negative) | There is little hope. |
| too many | plural countable | more than is good | There are too many cars. |
| too much | uncountable | more than is good | I drank too much coffee. |
| enough | both | sufficient | We have enough chairs and enough time. |
| too + adjective | — | excessively | It's too expensive. |
A Little, A Few, Too and Enough: the key rules
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A few + countable plural = a small number; a little + uncountable = a small amount.
a few emails, a little sugar
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Few/little without 'a' turn negative: almost none.
Few people came. There's little hope.
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Too + adjective = more than is good; too much/too many = an excessive amount.
It's too hot. There's too much noise. Too many cars.
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Enough goes after adjectives but before nouns.
warm enough, tall enough — enough money, enough chairs
When to use A Little, A Few, Too and Enough
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Describing a small quantity positively
A few and a little present the amount as adequate or at least useful.
I speak a little Spanish. We have a few options left.
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Complaining that there is too much
Too many and too much always carry a negative judgement.
There's too much noise and too many interruptions.
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Saying an amount is sufficient
Enough goes before a noun but after an adjective — a position rule worth memorising.
We have enough money. The room isn't big enough.
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Emphasising scarcity
Few and little without the article stress how little there is, and sound quite formal.
Few students passed. There was little time to prepare.
too vs. enough
Both judge quantity, but they point in opposite directions — and they sit in different places around an adjective.
too — more than you want
Always negative. Goes before an adjective, or as too much/too many before a noun.
It's too hot. There are too many people.
enough — the right amount
Neutral or positive. Goes after an adjective but before a noun.
It's warm enough. We have enough chairs.
A Little, A Few, Too and Enough in example sentences
- Could I have a little more time?a little with an uncountable noun.
- I invited a few colleagues.a few with a plural countable noun.
- Few people understood the instructions.few without the article means almost nobody.
- There's too much sugar in this.too much with an uncountable noun.
- We made too many mistakes.too many with a countable noun.
- The bag isn't light enough to carry.enough after the adjective.
- Do we have enough chairs?enough before the noun.
- This coat is too small for me.too before an adjective.
A Little, A Few, Too and Enough in a real conversation
Watch the position of enough — after adjectives, before nouns — and the judgement carried by too.
Chef:Is there enough salt in the sauce?
Assistant:I added a little. Maybe too much, actually.
Chef:It's not sweet enough. Add a few tomatoes.
Assistant:We have very few left. And there isn't much time.
Chef:Then use a little sugar instead. Not too much.
Assistant:Better. It's warm enough to serve now.
Common mistakes (and how to fix them)
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I have a little friends in this city.
I have a few friends in this city.
Friends is countable, so the small quantity is a few.
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The coffee is enough hot.
The coffee is hot enough.
Enough follows the adjective it modifies.
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It's too much expensive.
It's too expensive.
Before a bare adjective use too alone; too much needs a noun.
Practise A Little, A Few, Too and Enough today
The article in a few and a little changes the meaning, so practise both versions deliberately.
- Write four sentences with a few and four with a little, choosing nouns carefully.
- Rewrite two of them dropping the article and describe how the meaning changes.
- Write three complaints using too much or too many about your daily life.
- Write four sentences with enough — two before a noun, two after an adjective.
A Little, A Few, Too and Enough: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a few and few?
The article makes it positive. A few means some, a small but useful number: I have a few ideas suggests you can contribute. Few without the article means almost none and carries a negative, often disappointed tone: I have few ideas suggests you are stuck. The same applies to a little and little. Because few and little sound quite formal, speakers often say not many and not much instead.
Why is it big enough but enough money?
Enough goes after an adjective or adverb but before a noun. So the room is big enough and we have enough space are both correct, while enough big and space enough are not. This split position is unusual in English and simply has to be memorised. A useful way to remember it is that enough follows what it measures when that is a quality, and precedes it when it is a thing.
Can I say too much people?
No. People is a plural countable noun, so it takes too many: too many people. Too much only goes with uncountable nouns such as time, money, water, noise and information. The same countability split applies throughout the system — many, few and a few for countables; much, little and a little for uncountables.
What is the difference between too and very?
Very simply intensifies and is neutral: It's very hot could be a pleasant observation. Too means excessively, beyond an acceptable limit, and is always negative: It's too hot means uncomfortably so. Learners frequently use too where very is meant, which turns a compliment into a complaint — saying your English is too good sounds like criticism rather than praise.