only (a) little; only (a) few

[engee30]

I still don't know exactly which of the following phrases is correct, or maybe they're all correct. If so, what's the difference between them, if any?
only a little
only little
only a few
only few

[zeryphex]

I still don't know exactly which of the following phrases is correct, or maybe they're all correct. If so, what's the difference between them, if any?
only a little
only little
only a few
only few

You should use only a little and only a few. The phrases only little and only few are broken or incomplete.

[engee30]

The phrases only little and only few are broken or incomplete.

Is it because I didn't use the phrases 'only little' and 'only few' in a sentence that they're 'broken' or 'incomplete'?

I need to go to the shops. There's only little left.
I need some more eggs. There are only few left.
Would it be all right now?

[Casiopea]

Try,

I need to go to the shops. There's only a little (milk) left.
I need some more eggs. There are only a few (eggs) left.

Count noun: a few;e.g., eggs
Non-count noun: a little; e.g., milk

Does that help?

[engee30]

Try,

I need to go to the shops. There's only a little (milk) left.
I need some more eggs. There are only a few (eggs) left.

Count noun: a few;e.g., eggs
Non-count noun: a little; e.g., milk

Sorry, I simpy forgot to put the noun 'sugar' in the first sentence to make it more meaningful.

Does that help?

Oh yes. Thanks again.

[Casiopea]

You're welcome.

[zeryphex]

Is it because I didn't use the phrases 'only little' and 'only few' in a sentence that they're 'broken' or 'incomplete'?

I need to go to the shops. There's only little left.
I need some more eggs. There are only few left.
Would it be all right now?

I can think of examples where you don't use "a" in those phrases.

I need to buy more milk. There('s/ is) little left. (no need to use "only")

The general is relieving some of his officers. Only few know whom.

You can also separate the two sentences/clauses with a semicolon since they're talking about the same "idea." A semicolon just separates two clauses talking about the same thing.

[engee30]

The general is relieving some of his officers. Only few know whom.

Wait a minute, please. If you say that I can use the phrase 'only few', so my next question is, why did you say that I can't use such phrase beforehand?
There must be some reasonable explanation to this issue.

[zeryphex]

Is it because I didn't use the phrases 'only little' and 'only few' in a sentence that they're 'broken' or 'incomplete'?

I need to go to the shops. There's only little left.
I need some more eggs. There are only few left.
Would it be all right now?

Actually, the correct choice of wording would be "awkward." I would usually hear only a little and only a few in speech. Technically, I guess these sentences are grammatically correct.

[engee30]

Technically, I guess these sentences are grammatically correct.

Oh dear. I got a bit confused about the topic. The thing is I'd like to know whether I can use both versions of the phrases without being scorned for that. I just can imagine myself sitting an FCE exam, and making some kinds of transformation on the sentences like the one below:

Can you get some more coffee because there isn't much left? (only)
Can you get some more coffee because there is only little left?

Wrong answer!