Less or Fewer

Less or Fewer

Less refers to quantity :

E.g.

The baby drank less milk at 10am today than she did yesterday. Or, The paint is less than what is required; we will have to get some more.

Fewer refers to number :

E.g.

Fewer students attend classes when a holiday is approaching. Or, The executives attending the Annual Day party are fewer than last year.

Test your understanding - Choose the correct sentence from the pair of sentences given below

1.
a. Moti, our dog ate less food today.
b. Moti, our dog ate fewer food today.

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2.
a. There were fewer travellers in the metro yesterday evening.
b. There were less travellers in the metro yesterday evening.

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3.
a. Yesterday, it was less cloudy than today; yet it has not rained.
b. Yesterday, it was fewer cloudy than today; yet it has not rained.

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4.
a. The little boy has brought fewer pens to school today.
b. The little boy has brought less pens to school today.

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5.
a. There are fewer thorns in this cactus plant than that one.
b. There are less thorns in this cactus plant than that one.

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