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Using little, few, hardly any, scarcely any and related expressions.
Negative quantifiers express a small amount, a small number, or an absence of something.
Important negative or near-negative quantifiers include little, few, hardly any, scarcely any, barely any, and neither.
Little means a small amount of an uncountable noun and normally has a negative implication.
For example, There is little time left means that almost not enough time remains.
A little means a small but real amount, while little emphasizes that the amount is small or insufficient.
Compare We have a little time left, which suggests some useful time remains, with We have little time left, which suggests there is almost not enough time.
Few means a small number of plural countable nouns and normally has a negative implication.
For example, Few people understood the explanation.
A few means a small but real number, while few emphasizes that the number is small or insufficient.
Compare A few students stayed, which means some students stayed, with Few students stayed, which emphasizes that not many stayed.
Little is used with uncountable nouns, while few is used with plural countable nouns.
For example, little information but few facts.
Hardly any means almost none or almost not any and can occur with countable and uncountable nouns.
For example, There is hardly any milk left and Hardly any students attended.
Scarcely any means almost none and is generally more formal than hardly any.
For example, There was scarcely any evidence to support the claim.
Barely any means only a very small amount or number and commonly implies insufficiency.
For example, There was barely any food left.
Hardly emphasizes almost not at all, while barely emphasizes just enough or only a very small amount depending on context.
For example, I could hardly see means I could almost not see, while I could barely see means I could see only with difficulty.
Hardly any can precede plural countable nouns to indicate that almost none of the items or people are present.
For example, Hardly any students arrived on time.
Hardly any can precede uncountable nouns to indicate that almost none of the amount remains.
For example, There is hardly any water left.
Scarcely any can modify both plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns.
For example, Scarcely any employees complained and There was scarcely any interest in the proposal.
Barely any can modify plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns to indicate an extremely small quantity.
For example, Barely any people noticed and There was barely any evidence.
Not many indicates a small number of plural countable nouns without necessarily implying the stronger negative force of few.
For example, Not many students attended the lecture.
Not much indicates a small amount of an uncountable noun.
For example, There is not much time left.
Few and not many can describe a small number, but few generally carries a stronger implication that the number is unexpectedly or disappointingly small.
For example, Few people came can sound more negative than Not many people came.
Little and not much can both indicate a small amount, but little often carries a stronger negative implication.
For example, Little progress was made can sound more negative than Not much progress was made.
Very little emphasizes an extremely small amount of an uncountable noun.
For example, There is very little evidence to support the claim.
Very few emphasizes an extremely small number of plural countable nouns.
For example, Very few applicants met all the requirements.
So few modifies plural countable nouns, while so little modifies uncountable nouns, often emphasizing unexpectedly small quantity.
For example, There were so few seats that several people had to stand and We had so little time that we had to hurry.
Too few and too little indicate an amount or number that is insufficient for a particular purpose.
For example, There are too few chairs and We have too little time.
Enough can contrast with few and little by expressing a sufficient quantity or number.
For example, We have enough chairs contrasts with We have too few chairs.
Little can function as a quantifier before an uncountable noun or as an adjective in certain formal expressions.
For example, There is little evidence and It was a little-used method illustrate different grammatical uses.
Few normally occurs before plural countable nouns and does not require an article.
For example, Few people know the answer.
A few occurs before plural countable nouns and indicates a small but definite number.
For example, A few people stayed after the meeting.
Few of and a few of occur before determiner phrases such as the, these, my, or them.
For example, Few of the students passed and A few of my friends live nearby.
Little of and a little of can occur before specific noun phrases, especially those introduced by determiners.
For example, Little of the information was useful and A little of the money was spent.
Hardly any means almost none, while no means none at all.
For example, There was hardly any food means a tiny amount remained, while There was no food means none remained.
Verb agreement depends on the noun phrase controlled by the quantifier.
For example, Few students are ready, Little information is available, and A little money is needed.
Negative quantifiers can express negative meaning without requiring an additional not.
For example, Few students attended and Little information was available.
Negative quantifiers can occur in questions to ask about a small quantity or number, often expecting a low value.
For example, Are there few applicants? and Is there little evidence?
Few, little, fewer, and less participate in comparative quantity structures.
For example, There are fewer people here and We have less time than before.
Few and fewer are associated with countable nouns, while little and less are associated with uncountable nouns in standard usage.
For example, fewer mistakes but less information.
Choose negative quantifiers according to countability, quantity, degree of negativity, and whether the amount is small or insufficient.
Common mistakes include using little with plural count nouns, using few with uncountable nouns, confusing a little with little, confusing a few with few, and treating hardly any as exactly the same as no.