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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Fewer or less?
Good morning here! I've got a question related to comparatives: is it right to say, as an example, "Beyonce has had fewer boyfriends than JLO" ? Or is it "less" and why? I mean the use of fewer and less. Thanks.
Top answer
Fewer + plural nouns Less + uncountable nouns. So, it's 'fewer boyfriends' but you'll hear 'less'..
- Fewer + plural nouns Less + uncountable nouns.
- So, it's 'fewer boyfriends' but you'll hear 'less'..
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2 Answers
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Fewer + plural nouns
Less + uncountable nouns.
So, it's 'fewer boyfriends' but you'll hear 'less'..
Less + uncountable nouns.
So, it's 'fewer boyfriends' but you'll hear 'less'..
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I'd extend fivejedon's view:
Here is the rule as it is usually encountered: fewer refers to number among things that are counted, and less refers to quantity or amount among things that are measured. This rule is simple enough and easy enough to follow. It has only one fault -- it is not accurate for all usage. If we were to write the rule from
Here is the rule as it is usually encountered: fewer refers to number among things that are counted, and less refers to quantity or amount among things that are measured. This rule is simple enough and easy enough to follow. It has only one fault -- it is not accurate for all usage. If we were to write the rule from
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