“Less” or “Fewer”

Let’s look at a grammar point that many people – including native English speakers – often get wrong. And that is when to use the word “less” versus when to use the word “fewer”. The answer depends on whether the noun we’re referring to is countable or not.

Less

If the noun we’re describing cannot be counted – such as water, time or happiness – we should use the word “less”.
EXAMPLE: “It takes less time to get to work by bike.”
EXAMPLE: “There’s less water in the glass than I thought.”

Notice how strange and wrong it would sound to say, “There are three waters.” That’s because water is not countable.

Fewer

If the noun we’re describing can be counted – such as apples, houses, or dreams – then we should use the word “fewer”.
EXAMPLE: “Jane picked fewer apples than Nadia did.”
EXAMPLE: “He has fewer dreams now than when he was young.”

Notice how dreams are countable: “He had three big dreams when he was little; to become rich, famous, and to have a family.”

Exceptions:

As with most grammar rules, there are exceptions here too. When using countable units that refer to time, money, or distance, “less” is usually the correct choice. Here are some examples:
EXAMPLE: “He has less than five minutes to finish the exam.”
EXAMPLE: “I have less than twenty dollars in my wallet.”
EXAMPLE: “She bikes less than five miles to work.”

Have a look at the video above for some fun practice! The video is appropriate for Intermediate and Advanced ESL students – as well as native English speakers who want to brush up on their grammar. And, regardless of your level, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like to know more about my online classes. It will be my pleasure to help!

Cheryl