The expressions a little and a few mean some.
If a noun is in singular, we use a little
Example: a little money
If a noun is in plural, we use a few
Example: a few friends
Countable / Uncountable Nouns
In connection with a little / a few people often speak of countable nouns and uncountable nouns.
Countable nouns have a singular and a plural form. In plural, these nouns can be used with a number (that’s why they are called ‘countable nouns’). Countable nouns take a few.
Example: 4 friends – a few friends
Uncountable nouns can only be used in singular. These nouns cannot be used with a number (that’s why they are called ‘uncountable nouns’). Uncountable nouns take a little.
Example: 3 money – a little money
Note: Of course you can count money – but then you would name the currency and say that you have got 3 euro (but not “3 money”).
A Little / A few or Little / Few
It’s a difference if you use a little / a few or little / few. Without the article, the words have a limiting or negative meaning.
a little = some
little = hardly any
Example:
I need a little money. – I need some money.
I need little money. – I need hardly any money.
a few = some
few = hardly any
Example:
A few friends visited me. – Some friends visited me.
Few friends visited me. – Hardly any friends visited me.
Without the article, little / few sound rather formal. That’s why we don’t use them very often in everyday English. A negative sentence with much and many is more common here.
Example:
I need little money. = I do not need much money.
Few friends visited me. = Not many friends visited me.
