Little+countable noun

Question

Is that correct that 'little' goes with both countable and uncountable nouns as an adjective but when it's a modifier it only goes with uncountable nouns?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Tara2
Is that correct that 'little' goes with both countable and uncountable nouns as an adjective but when it's a modifier it only goes with uncountable nouns?

Your terminology is wrong. Adjectives are modifiers. In all of the expressions below 'little' is an adjective AND it is a modifier. (all countable)

a little dog, the little dogs, the little desk, little buttons

The other usage you are probably thinking of is when it's a determiner (or more specifically a quantifier). It's a quantifier in these three cases (all uncountable), and not a modifier.

little sugar, little wine, little patience

So little is an adjective with countable nouns, and a quantifier with uncountable nouns. (It's not a quantifier with countable nouns, and it's not an adjective with countable nouns.)

countable? > adjective meaning 'small'
not countable? > quantifier (a type of determiner) meaning 'not much'

CJ

Little+countable noun

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