Adjectives - Fewer vs. Less

Modifiers
Fewer vs. Less	Framed \| Unframed

Read & Contrast

Less wrinkles? Fruits?

Commercials constantly mangle English grammar to grab your attention! Compare "fewer" and "less" below.

More Fruits and Vegetables, Less Wrinkles
Incorrect!

Fewer vs. Less

adjectives
FEWER + COUNTABLE NOUN	LESS + NON-COUNTABLE NOUN
Do you want fewer lines and wrinkles on your face?	Do you want less wrinkling?
Eat fewer sweets.	Eat less candy.
Drink fewer sodas/soft drinks.	Drink less beer.
Smoke fewer cigarettes.	Inhale less tar and nicotine.

Common Mistake

ERROR	FIXES
*Eat more fruits and vegetables, get less wrinkles (wrinkles is a countable noun / fruit is usually non-count)	More fruit and vegetables, less wrinkling / fewer wrinkles.

Read & Contrast

More - count & non-count nouns

adjectives
MORE + COUNTABLE NOUN	MORE + NON-COUNTABLE NOUN
More people are eating healthier.	People have more knowledge about eating healthier.
People want to consume more anti-oxidants.	Consuming more red wine may hold the secret to youth.
Eating more vegetables adds fiber to one's diet.	More fiber helps digestion.

Many more vs. Much more

adjectives
MANY MORE + COUNTABLE NOUN	MUCH MORE + NON-COUNTABLE NOUN
Many more people are eating healthier diets.	People have much more knowledge about eating right.
People take in many more calories than they need.	People eat much more food than they should.

Practice

(CBS) Just as the holidays have arrived, a federal survey says the country’s weight problem is worse than ever with more than 60 percent (4.8 million) of Americans overweight.

Select the correct answer. Double click on the radio button to check your answer. An asterisk * indicates an incorrect answer.

example
#	SELECT FEWER OR LESS TO COMPLETE THE SENTENCE	OPTIONS
1.	The National Health Institute says that Americans need to eat food.	fewer less
2.	Americans are overweight and people are able to fit into standard airline seats.	fewer less
3.	Americans need to consume calories.	fewer less
4.	Americans need to eat junk food.	fewer less
5.	Studies also show that Americans are getting exercise.	fewer less
6.	They are spending minutes each day doing simple activities such as walking.	fewer less
7.	This study means that than forty-percent of the population is carrying a healthy weight.	fewer less
8.	The NHI is urging people to eat fat and more fruit and fiber.	fewer less
9.	That means super-sized drinks and fattening burgers.	fewer less
10.	Americans have work to do to improve their overall health .	many more much more

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Julie Sevastopoulos - ESL Department - College of San Mateo - San Mateo, CA 94402 USA

Modifiers

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Common Mistake

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Practice