little
little — noun
1. used in the phrase 'a little' to mean a small but noticeable quantity of somethi
used in the phrase 'a little' to mean a small but noticeable quantity of something, especially when that amount is enough for a particular need or purpose.
The chef added a little of the special sauce to each plate before serving.
pattern: a little of + noun phrase
After the long walk, the hikers stopped to eat a little and rest their legs.
pattern: have/eat + a little
The landlord offered a little of the fresh fruit from his garden to the tenant.
The toddler ate only a little of the vegetables on the plate.
The nurse said the patient had eaten a little, a good sign for recovery.
pattern: a little as noun object
- a little of
- a little + verb (eat/drink/have/know)
- just a little
- only a little
Grammar Patterns
a little of + noun phrase
have/eat/drink + a little
Usage Note
Always used with the indefinite article 'a'. Without 'a', the determiner form 'little' means 'almost none' (contrast: 'I ate a little' = some, 'I ate little' = almost nothing).
Common Mistakes
2. used in the phrase 'a little' to describe a short period of time or a small dist
used in the phrase 'a little' to describe a short period of time or a small distance between two points.
The children played outside for a little before dinner was ready.
pattern: for a little (time duration)
The traditional market is a little further down the main street.
pattern: a little + comparative (distance)
The tired father sat down on the bench to rest for a little after work.
The bus stop is a little past the library on the left side.
- for a little
- a little further
- a little longer
- a little past
Grammar Patterns
verb + a little (wait, rest, walk)
a little + comparative (further, longer, past)
Usage Note
Requires the article 'a' in this sense as well. 'Wait a little' means wait briefly; 'wait little' (without 'a') is not idiomatic in modern English.
Common Mistakes
3. a young child, especially when referred to in a warm or caring way using the phr
a young child, especially when referred to in a warm or caring way using the phrase 'little one' or 'little ones'.
The kindergarten teacher read a story to the little ones every afternoon after lunch.
plural: the little ones as a group
The nanny took the little ones to the park to play on the swings.
The parents brought their little one to the doctor for a check-up.
singular: possessive + little one
The grandmother promised to bake cookies for the little ones this weekend.
- the little ones
- my/our little one
- feed the little ones
- put the little ones to bed
- adult
a person who is fully grown
Grammar Patterns
the little one(s)
possessive + little one(s)
Usage Note
Often used by caregivers, teachers, and family members. 'Little ones' (plural) is more common than 'little one' (singular). More affectionate and less formal than 'children'.
Common Mistakes
little — adjective
1. below the average in physical dimensions, amount, or count; not reaching what is
below the average in physical dimensions, amount, or count; not reaching what is typical or expected.
The tailor sewed a little pocket inside the jacket for the watch.
little + concrete noun (small object)
Only a little rain fell last night, so the ground is still dry.
little + uncountable noun (small amount)
The new apartment has a little balcony where the tenant keeps potted plants.
My grandmother lives in a little house at the end of a quiet lane.
little + noun (describing physical size)
The cashier placed the ring in a little velvet box before handing it over.
- little house
- little bit
- little room
- little money
- little time
Grammar Patterns
little + noun
be + little
Usage Note
Predicative use ('The house is little.') is less common than attributive use ('a little house'). For objective measurement, 'small' is preferred over 'little'.
Common Mistakes
2. used for a serving of something to eat or drink that comes in a smaller quantity
used for a serving of something to eat or drink that comes in a smaller quantity than a typical portion.
The restaurant serves a little salad on the side at no extra charge.
little + food noun (portion size)
Would you like a little cake with your afternoon tea today?
The café gives each customer a little bowl of nuts with their drink order.
little + container noun (serving vessel)
After the meal, the host brought out a little glass of juice for everyone at the table.
- little salad
- little cake
- little snack
- little drink
- large
opposite for portion size—'a large salad' vs 'a little salad'
Grammar Patterns
little + food/drink noun
Usage Note
Nearly always appears before a noun referring to food or drink. 'A little something to eat' is a fixed phrase meaning a small snack.
3. given as a friendly gesture, costing very little and intended mainly as a though
given as a friendly gesture, costing very little and intended mainly as a thoughtful token rather than something of high monetary worth.
The children brought their teacher a little gift on the final day of school.
little gift — fixed collocation for modest present
Manuela picked up a little souvenir from the market for her new neighbour.
It was just a little something for his birthday — a box of handmade chocolates.
a little something — set phrase for modest gift
The family next door brought over a little plant as a welcome gift.
- little gift
- little present
- little souvenir
- little something
- small
interchangeable here but 'little' sounds warmer and more affectionate
Grammar Patterns
little + gift/present/souvenir/something
Usage Note
Frequently appears in the set phrase 'a little something' to refer to an informal gift. Avoid using 'little present' in formal contexts where the monetary value needs to be stated.
4. young in age, especially used to describe children or baby animals.
young in age, especially used to describe children or baby animals.
The little boy held his mother's hand tightly at the busy train station.
little + child noun
A little puppy followed the children all the way to the park gate.
little + baby animal noun
The little ones played in the sand while their parents sat on the bench nearby.
the little ones — fixed phrase for young children
When I was little, I believed that fairies lived at the bottom of the garden.
The little girl carefully drew a picture of her cat for her grandmother.
- little boy
- little girl
- little one
- little puppy
- little kitten
- old
opposite in age—'old' vs 'little' for age comparison
Grammar Patterns
little + child/baby/animal noun
be + little (age)
Usage Note
When used predicatively ('I was little'), it always refers to childhood, not animal age. 'Little' in this sense carries a softer, more affectionate tone than 'young'.
Common Mistakes
5. used after another adjective to add a personal feeling of fondness, disapproval,
used after another adjective to add a personal feeling of fondness, disapproval, or sympathy toward the person or thing being described.
That was a silly little mistake — please do not worry about it.
adjective + little + noun (softening criticism)
The hotel turned out to be a lovely little place right by the sea.
adjective + little + noun (affectionate)
He made a nasty little comment about her cooking that upset everyone.
What a sweet little dog! Could I please pet him?
what a + adjective + little + noun (exclamation)
Adina lives in a charming little cottage with a bright red front door.
- nice little
- silly little
- sweet little
- nasty little
- charming little
Grammar Patterns
adjective + little + noun
Usage Note
This sense only works when 'little' follows another adjective ('nice little flat', 'nasty little habit'). The preceding adjective carries the evaluation; 'little' adds an emotional colour. It is common in spoken and informal written English.
Common Mistakes
6. not important or serious enough to cause worry or require attention; describing
not important or serious enough to cause worry or require attention; describing minor issues, disagreements, or flaws.
Do not worry about the little details — focus on the main idea instead.
little details — minor, insignificant aspects
They had a little disagreement about who should wash the dishes.
The manager said it was just a little problem that could be fixed in minutes.
little problem — minor issue
She apologised for the little mess in the living room after the party.
The couple argued over a little thing that neither could remember the next day.
little thing — unimportant matter
- little detail
- little problem
- little thing
- little disagreement
- little matter
Grammar Patterns
little + abstract noun (problem, detail, thing, matter)
Usage Note
Often used deliberately to downplay a problem: calling an issue 'a little problem' suggests it is easily solved. This sense is primarily attributive ('a little issue') rather than predicative ('the issue is little').
Common Mistakes
This phrase means that big successful things often start very small.
Maya's small bakery became a chain; great oaks from little acorns grow.
Don't ignore a tiny idea—great oaks from little acorns grow.
This phrase is used when you know something but do not want to say who told you.
A little bird told me you got a promotion—congratulations!
How did you know about the party? A little bird told me.
This phrase means that something is not surprising at all.
No wonder Sara is tired—she ran ten miles today.
It's little wonder that Diego won the contest; he practiced daily.
little — adverb
1. to a small degree that is noticeable enough to matter — used before adjectives a
to a small degree that is noticeable enough to matter — used before adjectives and verbs, especially to soften a statement or criticism
The soup was a little too salty for the old fisherman's taste.
a little + adjective
The night guard felt a little nervous walking through the dark warehouse after midnight.
The librarian smiled a little when the child finally returned the overdue book.
verb + a little
The hiker felt a little stronger after resting for an hour by the mountain stream.
a little + comparative adjective
- a little + adjective
- a little + comparative
- verb + a little
- a little bit
Grammar Patterns
a little + adjective
a little + comparative adjective
verb + a little
Usage Note
When modifying a comparative adjective, 'a little' is more common in spoken English than 'slightly' and carries a softer, less formal tone.
Common Mistakes
2. happening or changing in small stages over a period of time, so that each step i
happening or changing in small stages over a period of time, so that each step is small but the overall result is noticeable
Little by little, the stray cat learned to trust the family that fed it.
little by little — fixed phrase at start of clause
The morning fog lifted little by little as the summer sun climbed higher.
Little by little, the young violinist improved through months of patient daily practice.
The abandoned garden came back to life little by little after the spring rains arrived.
clause + little by little
- little by little
- gradually
more formal; can describe any slow process without the 'step-by-step' image
- step by step
emphasises a deliberate, planned sequence rather than natural unfolding
- all at once
opposite — happening suddenly rather than in stages
- immediately
opposite — with no delay or gradual process
Grammar Patterns
little by little + clause
clause + little by little
Usage Note
This is a fixed phrase; the parts cannot be reordered ('by little little') or broken up. It can appear at the beginning or end of a clause.
Common Mistakes
3. only a small amount or almost not at all — used before or after a verb to say th
only a small amount or almost not at all — used before or after a verb to say that something happens in very small quantity or with very low frequency
The elderly woman ate very little after surgery because the pain made her feel sick.
very little + verb
The exhausted nurse slept little during her three night shifts in a row.
The local residents cared little about the committee's plan to close the park.
care little about + noun
The old stone house had changed little since the Wong family moved away decades ago.
- very little
- care little about
- know little about
- sleep little
- change little
- eat little
Grammar Patterns
verb + little
very little + verb
care/know/sleep/eat/change + little
Usage Note
Without the article 'a,' 'little' before a verb carries a negative sense — 'not enough' or 'hardly any.' Adding 'very' strengthens this negative tone. This is the main contrast with sense 1, where 'a little' is mildly positive or neutral.
Common Mistakes
4. barely or only just — used before a comparative word to say that something or so
barely or only just — used before a comparative word to say that something or someone is not significantly different from the thing mentioned, often expressing disappointment or lack of value
That hotel was little more than a damp room with broken furniture and dirty sheets.
little more than + noun phrase
The refugee's few possessions fit into little more than a single worn backpack.
The team's first draft was little more than a rough outline that needed full chapters.
Sahil's apology was little more than a mumbled excuse that no one could hear.
- little more than
- little better than
- little less than
- little different from
Grammar Patterns
little more/better/less than + noun phrase
Usage Note
This pattern expresses a critical or dismissive tone — 'this is not really worthy of a better description.' Can use any comparative: 'little better than,' 'little different from,' 'little less than.'
Common Mistakes
used for saying that someone was completely unaware of something important that later turned out to be true — often used to create dramatic contrast or surprise in storytelling
Little did the young teacher know that her first class would later become her most loyal supporters.
Little did the group of hikers realise that the storm was heading straight toward their campsite.
little — determiner
1. used before uncountable nouns to show that something exists in a very small amou
used before uncountable nouns to show that something exists in a very small amount, often less than is needed
Little rain fell during the dry season, so the river dried up.
little + uncountable noun for negative quantity
The tenant had little choice but to accept the new monthly rent.
There is little chance that the clinic will open before next month.
existential 'there is little...' pattern
Eli spoke little English when he first arrived in the city.
The team finished the race with little effort after months of training.
collocation: with little effort
- little choice
- little hope
- little chance
- little effort
- little rain
- little time
- not much
more common in everyday speech
- hardly any
stronger, suggests almost none at all
- minimal
more formal, used in writing
Grammar Patterns
little + uncountable noun
Usage Note
This sense has a negative meaning — it suggests the quantity is smaller than expected or needed. In informal speech, 'not much' is more common than 'little'. Do not confuse with 'a little' (sense 2), which has a positive meaning of a small but sufficient amount.
Common Mistakes
2. a small but noticeable or sufficient amount of something, used before uncountabl
a small but noticeable or sufficient amount of something, used before uncountable nouns when the quantity is not large but still matters or helps
The doctor recommended a little rest after the long surgery.
a little + uncountable noun for positive small quantity
A little kindness from a stranger can make a big difference.
The carpenter added a little glue to fix the broken desk leg.
If you have a little patience, your turn will come very soon.
conditional clause + a little
Tuan put a little pepper on his rice at lunch time today.
- a little help
- a little time
- a little money
- a little patience
- a little luck
- a little rest
- some
more neutral, does not emphasize smallness
- a small amount of
more formal and explicit
- a bit of
informal, common in spoken English
Grammar Patterns
a little + uncountable noun
Usage Note
This sense has a positive connotation — the amount is small but helpful or sufficient. It is the opposite in meaning to sense 1 (little without 'a'). Distinguished from the pronoun use ('a little' standing alone) by the presence of a following noun. In informal questions and requests, 'a little' is very common ('Could I have a little water?').
Common Mistakes
little — pronoun
1. A small but real or sufficient quantity of something — used when the amount is e
A small but real or sufficient quantity of something — used when the amount is enough for a purpose even though it is not large.
The gardener still has a little of last year's fertiliser left in the shed.
a little + of + noun phrase
Hugo saves a little from each pay cheque to put toward a new bicycle.
save a little (verb + a little)
The recipe calls for a little more milk than what we have in the fridge.
a little more + noun phrase
Lien knows a little about caring for houseplants from her grandmother.
know a little about + topic
After the heavy storm, only a little of the wheat crop could be saved.
only a little + of + noun
- a little of
- only a little
- just a little
- quite a little
- some
More neutral about quantity; 'a little' emphasises that the amount is small.
- a bit
Informal synonym, common in conversation.
- a small amount
More formal and precise, often used in written descriptions.
Grammar Patterns
a little + of + [uncountable noun]
have/need/want/know + a little
Usage Note
Always includes the article 'a' — this is what distinguishes this sense from sense 2. The pronoun form stands alone ('a little') rather than modifying a following noun, which separates it from the determiner use ('a little money').
Common Mistakes
2. A very small amount that is far from enough for what is needed or expected — use
A very small amount that is far from enough for what is needed or expected — used to express disappointment, criticism, or a sense that something is missing.
Little was done to help the refugees after the earthquake struck the region.
Little was done + infinitive
The committee understood little of the report because it was full of jargon.
understand little of + noun
There is little that the night-shift nurse can do when the pharmacy is closed.
There is little that... can do
Folake achieved little in the meeting because the manager kept changing the topic.
Little remains of the old theatre after the fire destroyed it last month.
Little remains of + noun
- little is
- little was
- little remains
- little of
- so little
- too little
- not much
More natural in everyday speech; less formal.
- hardly anything
More emphatic and conversational.
- almost nothing
Stronger in meaning; implies near-complete absence.
Grammar Patterns
little + is/was + done/known/said/remains
little + of + [noun]
understand/achieve/do + little
Usage Note
Used without the article 'a'. This sense is much more common in formal written English than in casual speech. In conversation, speakers usually prefer 'not much' or 'hardly any'. Common set phrases include 'little is known', 'little remains', and 'little was done'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- a littledeterminer / pronoun / adverbA2
- little by littleadverb phraseB1
- little onenoun phraseB1
- littlenessnounC2
- a little bitadverb phraseA2
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
「little」作為形容詞時與「small」的差異在於：little 帶有較強的情感色彩，常用於口語中表達親切（a little house 可愛的小屋）或輕視（a silly little mistake 愚蠢的小錯誤）；而 small 較中性客觀，適合用於事實描述（a small room 面積小的房間）。「tiny」程度更強，強調極小（a tiny baby 極小的嬰兒）。 作為限定詞時，little（不加 a）帶有負面含義，表示「幾乎沒有」（little hope 希望渺茫）；a little 則有正面含義，表示「一些但夠用」（a little help 一點幫助）。「few」用法類似但僅用於可數名詞（few friends 沒幾個朋友）。
Common collocations
Nouns
- a little bit (一點點)
- a little while (一小段時間)
Adverbs
- very little (非常少)
Phrases
- little by little (逐漸地)
- a little too + adj (有點太…)
- little more than (幾乎只是)
Etymology
little 源自古英語 lȳtel，原意為「小的、不多的」，可追溯至原始日耳曼語 *lūtilaz。現代英語中，此詞從體積的「小」逐漸擴展到年齡的「年幼」、程度的「輕微」以及數量的「稀少」等用法。