"I ate little rice" vs "I ate a little rice"

Question

"I ate little rice" vs "I ate a little rice"

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings. 'I ate a little rice' implies that you ate a small amount of rice, while 'I ate little rice' suggests that you didn't eat much rice at all. The addition of 'a' in the first phrase changes the meaning to indicate a small quantity, whereas the absence of 'a' in the second phrase emphasizes the lack of rice consumption.

Last Updated: March 31, 2024

This phrase is used to indicate that you consumed a very small or insufficient amount of rice.

Examples:

I ate little rice because I was full from the main course.
He ate little rice as he was not feeling well.

Alternatives:

I didn't eat much rice.
I had a small amount of rice.

This phrase is used to indicate that you consumed a small amount of rice.

Examples:

I ate a little rice with my curry.
She only ate a little rice for lunch.

Alternatives:

I ate some rice.
I had a small portion of rice.

Answer 1

I ate little rice

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

I ate a little rice

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"I ate little rice" vs "I ate a little rice"

I ate little rice

I ate a little rice

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