FEWER vs LESS | What's the difference?

[@oxfordenglishnow]

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[@erinlloyd4440]

Four fewer petals... I have a question! Are aches and pains "countable"? Would I say, "I have fewer aches and pains this year than last", or "I have less aches and pains this year than last"? Fewer sounds correct to me, but I wouldn't consider aches and pains to be countable.

[@oxfordenglishnow]

"Aches and pains" are countable, so the correct phrase would be: "I have fewer aches and pains this year than last."

[@ronelbierman3293]

Good, thank you! This helps a lot. I like the short quiz at the end.

[@oxfordenglishnow]

You're welcome!

[@gamer-player697]

The answer is fewer. I was confused but now I understand much better. Thank you!😀

[@oxfordenglishnow]

Correct answer! Well done! 😊

[@roshinikumar7781]

Thank you so much mam Great explanation

[@oxfordenglishnow]

Most welcome 😊

[@jeangermain4391]

"As the days passed, the flower had fewer of petals left ". Thank you.

[@oxfordenglishnow]

That's correct Jean, well done!

[@danaalenzi1583]

Fewer

[@oxfordenglishnow]

Exactly! Well done!

[@STRATMINOR]

Can it be a general rule to use “Fewer” where the thing you’re referring to is a plural and “Less” when not? For example, fewer days or fewer hours as opposed to less time, fewer tonnes fewer kilograms as opposed to less weight or less material or less matter. Does the plural infer that something can be counted? Do words which are the same for one amount as another infer cannot be readily counted?

[@oxfordenglishnow]

You're on the right track! The distinction between "fewer" and "less" largely depends on whether the noun is countable or uncountable, rather than just being plural or singular. General Rule: "Fewer" is used with countable nouns-things that can be counted as individual units. Examples: fewer days, fewer hours, fewer apples, fewer books. "Less" is used with uncountable nouns-things that cannot be counted individually but are measured in bulk, volume, or a general sense. Examples: less time, less water, less weight, less money. Countable vs. Uncountable: Countable Nouns: These are nouns that have a plural form and can be counted individually. Example: days (one day, two days, three days) - You can count days individually, so you say "fewer days." Uncountable Nouns: These nouns typically do not have a plural form and cannot be counted as individual units. Example: time (not "times" in this context) - Time is seen as a continuous concept rather than individual units, so you say "less time." Does Plurality Infer Countability? Plurality does generally imply that something is countable because you can have one or more of that thing (like days, hours, apples, books). Uncountable Nouns: These often have the same form whether you’re talking about a small amount or a large amount, and they cannot be easily counted. For example, "water" is the same whether you have a glass of it or a lake of it; hence, you use "less." Applying the Rule: "Fewer" for Countable Plurals: Fewer days, fewer hours, fewer cars. "Less" for Uncountable Nouns: Less time, less sugar, less information. Examples: Fewer tonnes, fewer kilograms (because these are units that can be counted). Less weight, less material, less matter (because these are uncountable as a whole). Summary: Use "fewer" with plural, countable nouns. Use "less" with singular, uncountable nouns. The plural form usually indicates that the noun is countable, but it's the countability, not just the plurality, that determines whether to use "fewer" or "less."

[@arwaalsafty9157]

Sarah, HELLO AGAIN ! First, Thank you for for everything. Second, I have a question,please. What's the difference in meaning between these two sentences : " I am sleeping badly these days " and "I have been sleeping badly recently . " ? What does each tense convey to the listener ? I really want to know and thank you in a advance.

[@oxfordenglishnow]

Hi Arwa, these two sentences have a very similar meaning. I think the present continuous is just saying what is happening now whereas the present perfect continuous is saying that you started sleeping badly in the past up until now but it doesn't mean that you will continue sleeping badly. It could have been a recent past. But quite frankly very little difference. Maybe in context the meaning would be more clear. I hope that helps!

[@arwaalsafty9157]

@@oxfordenglishnow Thank you so much for your reply. That helps. 🌷

[@arwaalsafty9157]

Teacher please. If you put something in a particular place and you went to that place to pick up your thing and you didn't find it there . In this particular context, what is the difference if I said " where is it ! It must be there " ,and if I said " it should be there " . Could you please tell me the accurate difference between 'it must be ' and 'it should be ' in this particular context. I am a teacher and I need to know the precise difference so that I tell me students about it . Thank you in advance.

[@oxfordenglishnow]

Hi Arwa, I have lots of lessons on modals. Must is a modal of certainty. Check out the lesson here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jV6wgGCPibWqpK8 and should is a lesson of possibility. I hope that helps!

[@sunnylovefore123]

my answer is fewer because the word after the blank is a countable noun.

[@oxfordenglishnow]

That’s right Silas, well done!

[@jeffersonleonardo2]

As the days passed by, the flower had fewer fewer petals left on it

[@oxfordenglishnow]

That’s right Jeff. Well done!

[@cshaqalle8258]

fewer

[@oxfordenglishnow]

That’s right! Well done!

[@untouchable360x]

"Four less fingernails to clean."

[@oxfordenglishnow]

exactly!

[@untouchable360x]

@@oxfordenglishnow fewer

[@meteluskervens898]

Fewer it is

[@oxfordenglishnow]

That’s right Metelus! Well done!

[@kenrutherford1109]

The signs you see in a grocery store are grammatically incorrect. They say _10_ _items_ _or_ _less._ They should say _10_ _items_ _or_ *_fewer._*

[@oxfordenglishnow]

You're absolutely right! The phrase "10 items or less" is a common mistake that you often see in grocery stores. The correct phrase should be "10 items or fewer."

[@PinarAyan2]

fewer

[@oxfordenglishnow]

Correct! Well done!

[@jurinembrini6465]

Fewer

[@oxfordenglishnow]

That’s right! Well done!

[@sawneri3378]

Fewer

[@oxfordenglishnow]

That’s right! Well done!

[@zamormariedaniela3295]

Fewer

[@oxfordenglishnow]

That's right, well done!