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Komountain Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
less
Hello.
As far as I know, "less" doesn't go with a one-syllable word.
less big than......... (incorrect)
less tall than......... (incorrect)
less far than.......... (incorrect)
less old than........... (incorrect)
less fast than............ (incorrect)
less deep than........... (incorrect)
If I am wrong, I'd love to stand corrected.
And if there are exceptions, please let me know.
How about 'less fun than.............'?
As far as I know, "less" doesn't go with a one-syllable word.
less big than......... (incorrect)
less tall than......... (incorrect)
less far than.......... (incorrect)
less old than........... (incorrect)
less fast than............ (incorrect)
less deep than........... (incorrect)
If I am wrong, I'd love to stand corrected.
And if there are exceptions, please let me know.
How about 'less fun than.............'?
Top answer
Well, "fun" is not an adjective, it's an uncountable, so it's OK to use it with "less". Yet it is common to replace the "less" construction by "not so/as ... as": "he's not so/as intelligent as his brother", meaning "he's less intelligent than his brother".
- Well, "fun" is not an adjective, it's an uncountable, so it's OK to use it with "less".
- Yet it is common to replace the "less" construction by "not so/as ...
- as": "he's not so/as intelligent as his brother", meaning "he's less intelligent than his brother".
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11 Answers
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Well, "fun" is not an adjective, it's an uncountable, so it's OK to use it with "less".
Yet it is common to replace the "less" construction by "not so/as ... as": "he's not so/as intelligent as his brother", meaning "he's less intelligent than his brother".
Yet it is common to replace the "less" construction by "not so/as ... as": "he's not so/as intelligent as his brother", meaning "he's less intelligent than his brother".
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Hi, pianne.
"fun" is also used as an adjective as in "have a fun time." Maybe, it is used only in a restrictive usage in which an adjective requires a noun to be described.
"fun" is also used as an adjective as in "have a fun time." Maybe, it is used only in a restrictive usage in which an adjective requires a noun to be described.
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Yes, you hit the nail on the head!
Does it sound awkward to you? To me, it doesn't.
Does it sound awkward to you? To me, it doesn't.
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How about less fit than ?
They are built of such huge, square stones, that their appearance of ponderous durability distresses the beholder with the idea that they can never fall,--never crumble away, --never be less fit than now for human habitation. (Nathaniel Hawthorn "The Marble Faun")
He modestly thought himself unfit for
They are built of such huge, square stones, that their appearance of ponderous durability distresses the beholder with the idea that they can never fall,--never crumble away, --never be less fit than now for human habitation. (Nathaniel Hawthorn "The Marble Faun")
He modestly thought himself unfit for
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Thank you for your quotes, Paco.
In your quotes, 'less' does go with one-sillable adjectives. These examples contradict what I read in a grammar book. The book, if my memory serves me right, said, 'less big than' is incorrect, noting that 'less' does not go with one-syllable words. But I have doubted the rule espoused by the book. That's why I posted the question. Your quotes justify my
In your quotes, 'less' does go with one-sillable adjectives. These examples contradict what I read in a grammar book. The book, if my memory serves me right, said, 'less big than' is incorrect, noting that 'less' does not go with one-syllable words. But I have doubted the rule espoused by the book. That's why I posted the question. Your quotes justify my
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I think "less big" and such should be re-written into "not so/as big as..."
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Hi, Pieanne.
Yes, I know its alternative. But I wonder if the afore-mentioned rule can be generalized. Is its generalization valid? Even though the rule works fine with 'big,' I still don't think it's universally applicable. Doubt hangs heavy over my head. Is there anyone out there capable of clearing the doubt about this so-called rule?
Yes, I know its alternative. But I wonder if the afore-mentioned rule can be generalized. Is its generalization valid? Even though the rule works fine with 'big,' I still don't think it's universally applicable. Doubt hangs heavy over my head. Is there anyone out there capable of clearing the doubt about this so-called rule?
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Hello KM
US Presidents are well known to make grammatical mistakes quite often. So I cannot be sure 'be less fat than' is really correct.
New York, Dec. 23, 1911.
Dear Archie:
Quentin turned up last night. He is half an inch taller than I am, and is in great shape. He is much less fat than he
US Presidents are well known to make grammatical mistakes quite often. So I cannot be sure 'be less fat than' is really correct.
New York, Dec. 23, 1911.
Dear Archie:
Quentin turned up last night. He is half an inch taller than I am, and is in great shape. He is much less fat than he
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Hello KM again
I've never heard such a grammar rule that monosyllabic adjectives can't go with 'less'. But it would be plausible some native speakers tend to refrain uses of that kind of constructs because they know there is a rule that monosyllabic adjectives can't go with 'more'. Few uses of such constructs could be explained another way. That is, most of monosyllabic adjectives are com
I've never heard such a grammar rule that monosyllabic adjectives can't go with 'less'. But it would be plausible some native speakers tend to refrain uses of that kind of constructs because they know there is a rule that monosyllabic adjectives can't go with 'more'. Few uses of such constructs could be explained another way. That is, most of monosyllabic adjectives are com
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