Few, fewer, fewest and little, less, least are small words that often cause big confusion for students. The key difference is what kind of noun they describe: count or non-count. Once students understand that distinction, the forms become much easier to use correctly.

Count Nouns: Few – Fewer – Fewest

Use the adjectives few, fewer, and fewest with nouns you can count one by one (e.g., "people," "books," "jobs," "emails").

Few

Few means not many and has a negative tone.

• Few students arrived on time today.
• There are few parking spaces near the building.
• Few answers were correct on the quiz.

Fewer

Fewer is the comparative form. It compares two amounts.

• There are fewer cars on the road today than yesterday.
• Fewer people joined the meeting than we expected.
• This year, we have fewer applicants than last year.

Fewest

Fewest is the superlative form. It means the smallest amount.

• Sara made the fewest mistakes on the test.
• This class has the fewest students in the program.
• That team scored the fewest points.

Non-Count Nouns: Little, Less, Least

Use the adjectives little, less, and least with nouns that you cannot count individually, such as "attention," "time," "water," and "information."

Little

Little means not much and often sounds negative.

• She showed little interest in the project.
• There was little hope of finishing on time.
• We have little information about the car accident.

Less

Less compares two amounts.

• This task takes less effort than the last one.
• I spend less money on coffee than I used to.
• He feels less stress at his new job.

Least

Least means the smallest amount.

• He drank the least milk of all the children.
• She has the least experience on the team.
• This option requires the least preparation.

A Note about A Few & A Little

While few and little can sound negative, a few and a little are usually postive. They suggest enough.

• A few chairs are still available.
• I have a few questions for you.
• There is a little milk left—enough for coffee in the morning.
• He speaks a little English.

 

Related

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• Lay Vs. Lie
• Everyday Vs. Every Day
• Teaching Tips on They're, Their & There
• Teaching Tips on You're & Your
• Teaching Tips on To, Too & Two
• Teaching Tips on It's & Its
• Ah Vs. Aah
• Count & Non-Count Nouns