(a) few + plural countable noun (a) little + uncountable noun Functions and examples
'a' few and 'a' little mean a small quantity or a small number. Without 'a' there is often a negative meaning. I have a few friends. (a small number, but I am happy) I have few friends. (a small number, and I wish I had more) I have a little money. (a small amount, but I am happy) I have little money. (a small amount, and I wish I had more)
Few and little without 'a' are quite formal. In spoken English, it is more common to say 'only a few / little' or 'not much / many'. Only a few people came to the meeting. Not many people came to the meeting. Few people came to the meeting. (more formal)
If we use 'a' few or 'a' little before a pronoun or determiner, we use of. A few of them went to the cinema. He only kept a little of his money with him.
