Small or Little

UPDATED: NOV 2021

PROBLEM:

Common
Confusion. Using "small" when you should use "little" and vice-versa

MEANING:

small = size
little = size and non-countable quantity

SMALL

EXAMPLES

I have a small car.
He is having a small problem with his Assistant Marketing Director.
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

I have little time for that idiot.
That is a cute little car you have there.
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.

GRAMMAR

VIDEO

WHICH WORD?

ESL LIBRARY