Definition little in British English

Little can be used in the following ways:

as a determiner (followed by a noun): There’s little time left.Little progress has been made.

as a pronoun: They have very little, but what they have, they share. (after ‘a’): Yes, I’d like some tea – but just a little. (followed by ‘of’): Little of the original building has survived.Can I take a little of this sugar? (after ‘the’): The little I know won’t be of much use to you.

as an adverb: I go there very little.I’m little affected by the cold. (after ‘a’): He talked a little about his childhood.

Little and a little are both used before nouns for talking about a small amount of something. But which you choose depends on your attitude.

Little is used for emphasizing that an amount is smaller than you would like or expect: Unfortunately, there is little hope of finding survivors.There has been little change since this morning.

A little is used for emphasizing that an amount is small, but greater than you might expect: There is still a little time to finish the game.I had a little money left so I took a taxi.

Little is like ‘not much’ or ‘not enough’; a little is like ‘some’.