Grammar Corner

Q: Professor Mayfair, please help me, I am confused. When do I say ‘less’, and when do I say ‘fewer’? (Stefano from Italy)

A: This is a difficult area to explain, Stefano, because there is some disagreement about what is grammatically ‘correct’. To begin with, let’s look at the traditional rules.

LESS is the comparative form of LITTLE, and is used before uncountable nouns when comparing things.
Example = I have little money. You have more money than me. I have less money than you.

FEWER is the comparative form of FEW, and is used before plural, countable nouns when we compare things.
Example = There are 10 boys in this class and there are 15 girls in this class. There are fewer boys than girls.

However, in informal spoken English, people use LESS with plural, countable nouns as well as uncountable nouns.
Example = I’ve got less problems than I used to have.
Some teachers think that using ‘less’ in this way is incorrect, but it is now quite common when people speak.

Now for some practice. Do we say LESS or FEWER?

1. ……… time
2. ……… people
3. ……… chocolate
4. ……… toys
5. ……… apples
6. ……… coins
7. ……… money
8. ……… chairs
9. ……… coffee
10. ……… information