List L

List L

later or latter? LATER is the comparative of ‘late’.
(late, later, latest)
Iwillseeyou LATER.
You are LATER than I expected.
LATTER is the opposite of ‘former’.
Cats and dogs are wonderful pets but the
LATTER need regular exercise.
Note: use ‘latter’ to indicate the second of
two references; use ‘last’ to indicate the
final one of three or more.
legend or myth? Both are traditional tales but legends
usually have some basis in fact (e.g.
Robert the Bruce and the spider, King
Alfred and the cakes, Robin Hood and
Sherwood Forest). Myths are supernatural
tales, often involving gods or giants,
which serve to explain natural events or
phenomena (e.g. Pandora’s Box and the
coming of evil into the world, The Seven
Pomegranate Seeds and the seasons of the
year and so on).
libel or slander? Both refer to statements damaging to a
person’s character: LIBEL is written;
SLANDER is spoken.
licence or license? LICENCE is a noun. We can refer to a
licence or the licence or your licence:
Do you have your driving LICENCE with
you?
LICENSE is a verb:
The restaurant is LICENSED for the
consumption of alcohol.
lightening or
lightning?		 LIGHTENING comes from the verb ‘to
lighten’ and so you can talk about:
LIGHTENING a heavy load or
LIGHTENING the colour of your hair.
LIGHTNING is the flash of light we get in
the sky during a thunderstorm.
liqueur or liquor? A LIQUEUR is a sweet, very strong,
alcoholic drink usually taken in small
glasses after a meal.
LIQUOR refers to any alcoholic drink.

(a) few and (a) little

1. We use few with plural nouns, and little with singular (uncountable) nouns.
Compare:

  • Few politicians are really honest.
  • I have little interest in politics

2. There is a difference between a few and few, and between a little and little.
Few and little are rather negative: they mean ‘not much/many’.
A few and a little are more positive, their meaning is more like ‘some’.
Compare:

  • His ideas are very difficult, and few people understand them.
    (=not many people,  hardly any people)
  • His ideas are difficult, but a few people understand them.
    (=some people- better than nothing)
  • I need little water
  • Give the roses a little water every day.

3. Few and little (without a) are rather formal. In conversation, we prefer not many, not much, only a few or only a little.

  • Only a few people speak a foreign language perfectly.
  • Come on! We haven‘t got much time!