Few, a few, the few; little, a little, the little.
Few means 'мало'. A few means 'несколько'. The few means 'те немногие (которые)'. He was a very good man. There are few like him in the world today. (Abrahams) He left after a few moments. (Dreiser) You need not fear to hear the few remaining words we have to say. (Dickens) Little means 'мало'. A little means 'некоторое количество'. The little means 'то небольшое количество (которое)'. We can't go skiing today. There is too little snow. We have a little time. Let us take a walk in the garden. Don't waste the little time you have. Two, the two; three, the three, etc. Two means 'два'. The two means 'оба, те два'. Two students entered the room. The two friends travelled together. The two books you lent me proved very interesting. The second, a second. The second is an ordinal numeral meaning 'второй'. The second attempt proved more successful than the first. A second means 'another, one more'. Having eaten the gruel, Oliver asked for a second portion. In the third, a third, the fourth, a fourth etc. we see the same difference in meaning. He made an experiment which proved his theory. He made a second, a third, a fourth experiment with the same results. A second time means 'once more'. I rang the bell, but nobody answered it, so I had to ring a second time.
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