a little

Meanings

1. 1determinerbefore a noun

   A small amount of something, used before uncountable nouns.

   Grammar: Comes before an uncountable noun: a little sugar, a little time. Not used with plural countable nouns.

   Patterns

   • a little + uncountable noun

   Could I have a little water, please?

   She has a little experience in teaching.

   There is a little milk left in the fridge.

2. 2adverb

   To a small degree; slightly.

   Grammar: Used before adjectives or verbs to mean 'slightly': a little tired, a little surprised.

   Patterns

   • a little + adjective
   • a little + verb

   I'm a little tired today.

   He was a little upset by the news.

   The price is a little higher than I expected.

3. 3pronoun

   A small amount, used without a following noun when the meaning is clear.

   Grammar: Stands alone as a pronoun: I'll take a little. Often followed by 'of'.

   Patterns

   • a little of something
   • take a little

   Would you like some cake? Just a little, please.

   A little of the paint got on the floor.

   We only need a little to finish the job.

Common combinations

a little bit

I'm a little bit nervous about the test.

a little more

Can I have a little more time?

a little less

Try to speak a little less loudly.

just a little

Just a little salt, please.

Synonyms and how they differ

some

Neutral amount; 'a little' emphasizes a small amount.

a bit of

Informal; similar meaning but often used with countable nouns too.

slightly

Adverb meaning 'a little'; used before adjectives, not nouns.

Opposites

Commonly confused: a little or a few? a little or little?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “a little”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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