Fewer or less

1. Lunch & Learn
Fewer or less

2.  When do we use fewer or less in a
sentence?
Question

3.  I have fewer days off than you do.
 I have less sugar on my cereal than you
do.
What’s the difference?

4. We use fewer when referring to count
nouns and less when referring to non-
count nouns (mass nouns).
Explanation

5. Remember!
Count nouns
• examples:
– 5 tables
– 3 chairs
– 2 cars
Non-Count nouns
• examples:
- sugar
- coffee
- gas

6. Ready for a quiz?
Read the following sentences.
Should we use fewer or less?

7. Fewer or less?
1.I think you have been to British
Columbia ____________ times than I
have.

8. Fewer or less?
1.I think you have been to British
Columbia fewer times than I have.

9. Fewer or less?
2. She has missed ________ days of
work than you have.

10. Fewer or less?
2. She has missed fewer days of work
than you have.

11. Fewer or less?
3. I think you should have put _________ soy
sauce on your rice.

12. Fewer or less?
3. I think you should have put less soy
sauce on your rice.

13. Fewer or less?
4. I think I will eat _________ oatmeal
next time!

14. Fewer or less?
4. I think I will eat less oatmeal next
time!

15. Fewer or less?
5. I was too hot! I think I will use
__________ blankets tomorrow night.

16. Fewer or less?
5. I was too hot! I think I will use fewer
blankets tomorrow night.

17. Fewer or less?
6. I think next time you should put
_______ water on those plants.

18. Fewer or less?
6. I think next time you should put less
water on those plants.

19. Fewer or less?
7. John spent __________ money on
ties last year.

20. Fewer or less?
7. John spent less money on ties last
year.

21. Fewer or less?
8. I think they should eat a lot ___________
sugar!

22. Fewer or less?
8. I think they should eat a lot less
sugar!

23. Fewer or less?
9. They drank ____________ cans of
soda than I thought.

24. Fewer or less?
9. They drank fewer cans of soda than I
thought.

25. Fewer or less?
10. I wish you would use __________
ingredients in your waffle recipe.

26. Fewer or less?
10. I wish you would use fewer
ingredients in your waffle recipe.

27. Fewer or less?
11. I’m so tired! I wish I had _________
homework!

28. Fewer or less?
11. I’m so tired! I wish I had less
homework!

29. Fewer or less?
12. She told me to use __________
soap when washing the dishes.

30. Fewer or less?
12. She told me to use less soap when
washing the dishes.

31. Fewer or less?
13. He read 12 comic books? I think he
should read _______comic books and
more books!

32. Fewer or less?
13. He read 12 comic books? I think he
should read fewer comic books and more
books!

33. Fewer or less?
14. I think Jan and Karen ran ___________
miles last week.

34. Fewer or less?
14. I think Jan and Karen ran fewer miles last
week.

35. Fewer or less?
15. You slept 12 hours last night. Do you
think you could get by with a little
____________ sleep?

36. Fewer or less?
15. You slept 12 hours last night. Do you
think you could get by with a little less
sleep?

37. Questions?
Amrita
@ agill@myenglishonline.ca
englishonlinemb10
Blaine
@ broberts@myenglishonline.ca
blaine_myenglishonline
Image shared under CC0

38. Thank you for attending!
See you next time!
Image shared under CC0 Image shared under CC0