Here are my guess:
- I can speak English a little. (adverb)
- I can speak a little English. (here “a little” can be adjective describing English or it can be adverb describing speak)
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Sign up to join this communityHere are my guess:
I'd agree in the first case, little is used as an adverb.
In the second example,
I can speak a little English.
it's an adjective. Consider the following:
I can speak a little English and a little Xhosa.
Here it is made clear that each little is referring to each (proper) noun.
Of course, just to confuse the issue, little could even be a noun.
"Would you like some sherbet?"
"I'd like a little."