Use/little,a little,the little

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Use/little,a little,the little
Message from ayeshapak posted on 16-11-2015 at 08:53:23 (D | E | F)
Hello,
Could you help me please?
I need to know the correct usage of "little,a little and the little". I have to prepare my test and want to know the correct differences with examples.
Thanks for help

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Edited by lucile83 on 16-11-2015 10:02

Re: Use/little,a little,the little from floflor, posted on 16-11-2015 at 12:44:07 (D | E)
Hello,
Here are some examples with an explanation:

There is a little milk in the glass. = There is milk in the glass, yet the glass is not full of milk.
=> "a little" is positive. It means the same as "a small amount of"
There is little milk in the glass. = There is nearly no milk in the glass.
=> "little" is neagative. It means the same as "not much"
The little time we spent on reading the text was not enough to be able to answer the questions. = We spent little time on reading, thus we could not answer the questions in the end.
=> "the little" is negative. It means the same as "not much", and it is used with something definite (here: "time").

Also, bear in mind that "(a/the) little" is used only with uncountable nouns, such as "time", "milk", "water", "bread"...
"The little" can also be part of a nominal group, such in the sentence"The little birds [are tweeting in the trees.]. Here, "little" is an adjective which means "small".
I hope this helps.
Best

Re: Use/little,a little,the little from ayeshapak, posted on 16-11-2015 at 13:40:01 (D | E)
Thank you very much.

Re: Use/little,a little,the little from mitali, posted on 24-11-2015 at 11:31:20 (D | E)
Thank you for sharing.

Re: Use/little,a little,the little from bluduck2, posted on 26-11-2015 at 19:39:22 (D | E)
Hello ayeshapak !
I tell the students it's a question of point of view ,with this example:
You have a week-end job in a shop and the shop owner gives you £30. He considers it's quite good wages for what you actually do ,so he says "I give him a little money,he/she should be thankful.
But you would like to buy a new(expensive!) smartphone,so you say "the shopowner gives me little money ,I'll have to find another job!"
The shopkeeper gives you a few £(=pounds ),you think he gives you too few £ =pounds !
I hope this helps !
Bluduck2

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Edited by lucile83 on 26-11-2015 19:48
Mind the colours please.

Re: Use/little,a little,the little from ayeshapak, posted on 27-11-2015 at 07:31:40 (D | E)
Thank you!

Re: Use/little,a little,the little from gerondif, posted on 27-11-2015 at 11:06:27 (D | E)
Hello,
a few and a little can have a positive meaning, few and little can have a negative meaning:
I have a little money: I have enough to live.
I have little money, very little money: I don't have enough to live, it is hard to make ends meet.
I have a few good friends, I value them and am happy to have them, I don't need more,I have enough friends.
I have few friends, I feel lonely. I wish I had more.

"Oh, look at the little bird!" little means small and cute, I used to tell my pupils that if they were an ant and saw a bird as big as a mountain land near them, they wouldn't say "Oh, look at that little bird!"

a little will be used to modify an adjective:
I am a little tired, a bit tired.

Re: Use/little,a little,the little from ayeshapak, posted on 01-12-2015 at 08:20:55 (D | E)
Thank you!

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