little

little /ˈlitl/ I. adj. (less, least) 1. 小的；幼小的：So that’s your little trick!原来是你耍的小花招! 2.少，不多的(表示否定语气)：There is little time left. 不剩什么时间了。A little 一些(表示肯定语气)：Don’t worry, we still have a little time. 别担心，我们还有些时间呢。 know (a) little French 不懂什么(懂一点儿)法语 ‖II.adv. (less, least) 1. 少：think little of 不重视；sleep little睡得很少 (cf: sleep a little 睡一会儿)； spend a little more than $100 花掉100美元多一点儿 ［考句］Whenever I have an appointment, I like to arrive a little ahead of time.不论什么时候只要我有约会，我都喜欢稍早于约定时间到达。 (a little作为adv.修饰prep.短语，另如：a little before ten“十点不到一点”。) 2.毫不 (用在know, think, suspect, believe, care等动词之前)：He little knows (或Little does he know) what may happen.他一点不知道可能会发生什么事。 ‖III. n.［u］没有多少(表示否定语气)： I understood little of his speech. 他的话我没听懂多少。a little 一点，少量(表示肯定语气)：Little remains to be done about it.这件事几乎没什么可做的了。(cf: A little remains to be done. 还有一些要做)。We have only covered a little today.今天我们只走了一点儿路。 a little of一点儿…： He knows a little of everything. 他样样都懂一点儿。little by little 逐渐地；一点点地：Little by little the smoke grew heavier and thicker.烟逐渐变得越来越浓。

［辨析］little (很少)表示否定含义，修饰不可数名词。a little (一些，=some)表示肯定含义，修饰不可数名词。 Few (很少；几乎没有) 表示否定含义，修饰可数名词。 A few (一些；= some)表示肯定含义，修饰可数名词。例: I have a little money.我有一些钱。I have little money.我几乎没钱了。 — Are there many books? — No, there are few.“有很多书吗?”“不，几乎没有了”。 — Are there any books? — Yes, there are a few.“有书吗?”“是的，有一些。”