Not much is known about the possibility of the existence of rational beings on other planets. Only little research has been carried out in this field.
I have two questions:
(1) In the first sentence the word much is used, it’s because after it information is omitted, isn’t it?
(2) Instead of the phrase in bold only a little (that’s, with an indefinite article)should be used, shouldn’t it?
Many thanks..I do not get much sense that any specific word, “information” or otherwise, is omitted. (I personally find it slightly awkward anyway to say that one “knows” information, but that is a secondary point.)
Yes.
Honestly, didn’t get why you [color=darkred]should say ‘a little research’. ‘Little research’ stands for ‘not much/not enough’ which suits the cotext well…
The reason is the word “Only”. It would be OK to say “Little research has been carried out in this field” (with usual slight difference of emphasis compared to “A little research…”).
You mean you can’t say “Only little research/space/time etc” (with uncountables)? How about: “The compressibility of liquids is very low since there is only little free space between liquid particles.” or “The need for only little sleep.”?
No, none of those sound right.
Could you give any grammatical reason for considering it freak (the BNC seems to be citing ‘incorrect’ expressions)?
I wouldn’t say I consider it “freak”! (That’s an odd word to use…)
No, sorry, I don’t have any better explanation than that it doesn’t sound right to me.