few - fewer - fewest / little - less - least

Few and little are both quantifiers which have a negative meaning : 'not a lot'.


Their use with countable or uncountable nouns is shown in the table below.


In the examples given, apples is a plural countable noun, modified by fewer and fewest.

Milk is an uncountable noun, modified by less and least.


Meaning and use Example

Few - Meaning : not many/not a lot

- Used before plural nouns.

There are few apples at the market
today.

Fewer - Meaning : not as many

- Used before plural nouns

The supermarket has fewer apples.


Fewest - Meaning : the smallest number

- Used with 'the' before plural nouns

This shop has the fewest
apples.

Little - Meaning : not much/not a lot

- Used before uncountable nouns.

There is little milk left in the
bottle.


Less - Meaning : not as much

- Used before uncountable nouns.

We bought less milk yesterday.


Least - Meaning : the smallest quantity

- Used with 'the' before uncountable nouns.

The child refused to
drink the least milk.


N.B.
'A few' and 'a little' have a positive meaning : a small quantity.
- There are a few apples. There is a little milk.

from: Learn English Today