little - small

little - small
Small and little are both used to say that someone or something is not large. There are some important differences in the ways these words are used.
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◊ position in clause
Small can be used in front of a noun, or after a verb such as `be'.

They escaped in small boats.

Portable computers need to be small.

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Little is normally used only in front of nouns. You can talk about `a little town', but you do not say `The town is little'.

...a little table with a glass top.

...a little piece of rock.

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◊ used with submodifiers
You can use words like `quite' and `rather' in front of small.

...quite small incidents.

...a rather small paper knife.

...fairly small groups of people.

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You do not use these words in front of little.
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You can use `very' and `too' in front of small.

The trees are full of very small birds.

...houses which are too small.

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You do not use `very' or `too' in front of little when you use it as an adjective. You do not say, for example, `I have a very little car' or `Our house is very little'.
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◊ comparatives and superlatives
Small has the comparative and superlative forms smaller and smallest.

They are smaller, darker birds.

...the smallest yachts in the fleet.

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You do not use a comparative or superlative form of little.
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◊ used with other adjectives
You can use other adjectives in front of little.

...a nice little man.

...a historic little ship.

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You do not normally use other adjectives in front of small.
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For a graded list of adjectives which are used to describe how small or large something is, see entry at ↑ small - large.
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See also entry at ↑ little - a little.
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Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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