WHICH WORD?

Small or Little
UPDATED:  JUN 2023
PROBLEM:
  • Common
  • Confusion.  Using "small" when you should use "little" and vice-versa
MEANING:
  • small = size
  • little = size and non-countable quantity 
SMALL
​
EXAMPLES
​
  1. I have a small car. 

  2. He is having a small problem with his Assistant Marketing Director. 

  3. Switzerland is a small country. ​
Small is the opposite of big or large. It can be used in the comparative superlative
​(--> smaller, the smallest).
LITTLE
​
EXAMPLES
​
  1. I have little time for politics. 

  2. That is a cute little car you have there. 

  3. My Doctor is a little concerned about my health. 
Little is used to show how you feel about a person or thing. 
​
When it is used with uncountable nouns, it means: 'not much', e.g.: a little milk/ sugar/ tea
TIP:
  • Use "small" for size.     
  • Use "little" for feelings.

Using this tip you will be speaking correctly most of the time.  As you improve your fluency and increase your contact with the language you will intuitively learn how to use these two words (adjectives) correctly.