He is a little fat/He is little fat ?

[ph2004]

Why is it : "He is a little fat", and not "He is little fat" ? Is there an exact reason for the article "a" ?

[Soup]

Why is it : "He is a little fat", and not "He is little fat" ? Is there an exact reason for the article "a" ?

I like this explanation from CalifJim:

"a little" has a positive polarity; it focuses on the presence of a small amount.

"little" has a negative polarity; it focuses on the absence of a great amount.

I have a little experience. = I have some experience. = I have a small amount of experience.

I have little experience. = I do not have much experience.

I think I could do that job fairly well; I have a little experience doing that sort of thing.
I doubt I could do that job very well; I have little experience doing that sort of thing.

It seems the patient is recovering from her illness; she shows a little interest in food today.
It seems the patient is not recovering; she still shows little interest in food.

Do you understand English?
-- Yes, I understand a little. = I understand a small amount of English.

-- Yes, but very little. = I understand some English, but I do not understand very much English.

I understand English and German, but only a little French. = ..., but not more than a small amount of French.

He drinks a lot of wine, but little beer. = He drinks a lot of wine, but not very much beer.

Please stay a little longer. = Please stay a small amount of time longer.

?Please stay little longer. = Please don't stay very much longer. (Strange! Insulting! Unidiomatic!)

Note: "little, a little, much" with noncountables correspond to "few, a few, many" with countables.

Note: In many cases in everyday conversation, "not very much" is more idiomatic than "little".

CJ


Thu, 03 Feb 05 06:49 AM

[sarat_106]

Why is it : "He is a little fat", and not "He is little fat" ? Is there an exact reason for the article "a" ?

Here ‘fat’ is an adjective. You need an adverb to modify it. Both ‘little’ and ‘a little’ can function as adverbs. With ‘little’; He is little fat. It does not mean anything.

Look at the following sentences:
He knows little English. = He knows nothing about English.
He knows a little English. = He knows something about English.
He is little fat.= He has no flesh. (meaningless)
He is very fat. = He has a lot of flesh.
He is a little fat. = He is slightly fat. = He has some flesh but not much or flesh to a less degree.