Lesson 1 of 4 | English Language / Fewer and less
Countable takes fewer
1 practice test
Learning outcome
You can choose fewer for a countable plural and less for an uncountable mass.
Concepts and reasons
Fewer answers how many. The noun is a plural you can count: fewer books, fewer errors. Less answers how much. The noun is a mass you do not count one by one: less water, less time.
Worked examples
- There are fewer books on the shelf. Books can be counted, so fewer is the match.
- We have less time. Time here is a mass, so less is the match.
Common traps
Less students treats students as a mass. Students are countable, so the line is fewer students. Fewer water treats water as a plural. Water in this use is a mass, so the line is less water.
Practice questions
- Which word fits: fewer or less? We made _ mistakes.
- Which word fits: fewer or less? Add _ sugar.
Answers and explanations
- Fewer. Mistakes can be counted.
- Less. Sugar here is a mass.
Analogy
Fewer is for separate coins you can point at. Less is for a heap you do not count coin by coin.
Quick reference
- Countable plural: fewer books, fewer mistakes.
- Uncountable mass: less water, less time, less sugar.
- Less students is the mismatch. Fewer water is the mismatch.