"Little" und "few" werden beide verwendet, um eine kleine Menge von etwas zu bezeichnen, aber sie werden unterschiedlich verwendet, je nachdem, ob das Substantiv, das sie modifizieren, zählbar oder nicht zählbar ist.​

  1. Little: "Little" is used with uncountable nouns, which are substances or concepts that cannot be counted as individual units.
    Examples:
    • There is little water left in the bottle. (Water is uncountable.)
    • She has little patience for incompetence. (Patience is uncountable.)
    • He has little money to spare. (Money is uncountable.)
  2. Few: "Few" is used with countable nouns, which are objects or entities that can be counted as individual units.
    Examples:
    • There are few books on the shelf. (Books are countable.)
    • We have few opportunities to meet in person. (Opportunities are countable.)
    • Few people attended the meeting. (People are countable.)


"We use "less" when we are referring to a smaller amount or quantity of something. It is the comparative form of "little." For example:

  1. "I have less money than you."
  2. "She has less experience in this field."
  3. "There is less sugar in this recipe."

It's important to note that "less" is used with uncountable nouns (things that cannot be counted individually), whereas "fewer" is used with countable nouns (things that can be counted individually). For example:

  • "There is less water in the glass." (Water is uncountable.)
  • "There are fewer apples in the basket." (Apples are countable.)


However, in informal usage, people often interchange "less" and "fewer," which is considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing."

  1. Least: "Least" is used when referring to uncountable nouns or to compare qualities that cannot be counted individually.
    - "This is the least expensive option."
  2. Fewest: "Fewest" is used when referring to countable nouns or to compare quantities that can be counted individually.
    - "He has the fewest apples among his friends"
    - "This store has the fewest customers at this time of day."

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Examples of all
The waiter had little help yesterday. - Der Kellner hatte gestern wenig Hilfe. 
The waiter had less help yesterday than the day before. - Der Kellner hatte gestern weniger Hilfe als am Tag zuvor.
The waiter had the least help on help Sunday. - Der Kellner hatte am Sonntag die wenigste Hilfe.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
There were few people to help her with her work. - Es gab nur wenige Menschen, die ihr bei ihrer Arbeit halfen.
There were fewer people to help her with her work than before. - Es gab weniger Leute, die ihr bei ihrer Arbeit helfen konnten als vorher.
There were the fewest people to help her with her work than ever before.- Es gab weniger Leute, die ihr bei ihrer Arbeit halfen als je zuvor.

English Exercise: Vocabulary and Grammar

27. Can you give me ______ cookies, please?
a) a few
b) little
c) fewer

28. There are only ______ students in the classroom today.
a) a few
b) little
c) fewer

29. Of all the passengers he has ______ things in his suitcase.
a) the fewest
b) fewer
c) little

1. Of all the flats in the housing block, they have ______ cups in their kitchen.
a) the fewest
b) fewer
c) little

2. It's the ______ crowded park in the city, and the cleanest.
a) little
b) less
c) least

3. This is ______ spicy food on the menu.
a) the least
b) fewer
c) little

4. Of all the students, he has ______ books in his bag.
a) less
b) the least
c) fewest

5. He has been watching tv. Now he has ______ time to finish his homework.
a) less
b) few
c) little

13. Can I have a ______ piece of cake, please?
a) little
b) few
c) lesser

14. He has ______ friends at school than most children.
a) fewer
b) less
c) little

15. There are ______ clouds in the sky today than usual.
a) little
b) less
c) fewer

16. The baby has a ______ toy. It makes him smile when he sees it.
a) little
b) few
c) less

17. She wants to eat ______ candy because candy is bad for her teeth.
a) fewer
b) less
c) little

18. There is ______ milk in the fridge since Jim moved in.
a) less
b) fewer
c) little

19. This is the ______ expensive shirt in the store.
a) less
b) least
c) little

20. She has the ______ amount of money.
a) least
b) fewer
c) little

21. He has ______ trees in his garden.
a) the fewest
b) fewer
c) little

22. She has ______ cookies left in the tin (Bleckdose).
a) the fewest
b) fewer
c) little

23. Of all the boxes this box has ______ candles (Kerzen) in it.
a) the fewest
b) fewer
c) little

24. There are ______ apples than oranges in the basket.
a) fewer
b) less
c) little

25. She has ______ books than her sister.
a) fewer
b) less
c) little

5. We would like ______ sugar in our tea, please.
a) less
b) fewer
c) little

6. I have a ______ cat. She is small and fluffy.
a) little
b) less
c) few

7. There is a ______ bird in the tree. It sings sweetly.
a) less
b) few
c) little

8. I have a ______ golf balls with me today.
a) few
b) little
c) fewest

9. There are ______ apples on the table.
a) a few
b) little
c) fewer

10. I have ______ money than my friend.
a) little
b) fewer
c) less

11. We need ______ chairs for the smaller table.
a) fewer
b) the least
c) little

12. I have a ______ sister. She is very cute.
a) little
b) few
c) less

26. I need ______ more minutes to finish my homework.
a) a few
b) little
c) fewer