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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

The + comparative adj + noun + rel clause, ...

a. The fewer people you invite, the fewer problems will occur.

b. The fewer people you invite, the fewer problems occur.

c. The less people you invite, the less problems will occur.

d. The less people you invite, the less problems occur.

Which are grammatical?

What's the difference between including 'will' and not?

Thanks
  

Top answer

Many grammarians still insist on 'fewer' for countables (including me: it's a gut reaction), but 'less' has a long history with both sorts of nouns. 'Will' (of course) intimates the future. The simple present is the universal present.

— Mister Micawber

  • Many grammarians still insist on 'fewer' for countables (including me: it's a gut reaction), but 'less' has a long history with both sorts of nouns.
  • 'Will' (of course) intimates the future.
  • The simple present is the universal present.
  • So there will be a difference in effective meaning only if the statement refers to a specific upcoming event.
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3 Answers
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Many grammarians still insist on 'fewer' for countables (including me: it's a gut reaction), but 'less' has a long history with both sorts of nouns.

'Will' (of course) intimates the future. The simple present is the universal present. So there will be a difference in effective meaning only if the statement refers to a specific upcoming event.
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Mister MicawberSo there will be a difference in effective meaning only if the statement refers to a specific upcoming event.

Ah, that's what I wanted to know. So can 'will' be used instead of the present simple to talk about universal present, if the statement isn't referring to a specific upcoming event?
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