Question 1

What is the rule for "less" vs "fewer"?

Accepted Answer

Use "fewer" with countable plural nouns — things you can count individually: "fewer cars," "fewer mistakes," "fewer opportunities." Use "less" with uncountable nouns — things you measure as a mass: "less water," "less noise," "less time." The rule mirrors "many" (countable) vs "much" (uncountable). If you can say "many" before a noun, use "fewer" in comparisons. If you can say "much," use "less." One exception: measurements and amounts treated as a single unit take "less" even when they contain countable words: "less than ten pounds," "less than five minutes." Cambridge B2 examiners expect this distinction in formal writing tasks.

Question 2

Why do supermarket signs say "10 items or less" instead of "fewer"?

Accepted Answer

Supermarket signs use "less" because in informal spoken English, "less" has largely replaced "fewer" for many speakers — especially in fixed phrases like "10 items or less." Strict grammarians consider this incorrect since "items" is a countable plural noun and should take "fewer": "10 items or fewer." However, "less" has been used with countable nouns in English for over a thousand years, and many linguists consider both forms acceptable in everyday speech. For Cambridge exams and formal writing, always use "fewer" with countable nouns. In conversation, using "less" with countable nouns will not cause misunderstanding, but it may be noticed in formal contexts.

Question 3

When is it correct to say "less than five" with a number?

Accepted Answer

"Less than" is correct before numbers when the quantity is treated as a single unit of measurement rather than individual items. "Less than five kilometres" (distance as one measurement), "less than three hours" (time as one block), "less than twenty pounds" (money as one sum). Compare: "fewer than five students" — here, students are individual people, so "fewer" is correct. The test is whether you are counting individual items (fewer) or measuring a total amount (less). Percentages and fractions also take "less": "less than 50 per cent," "less than half." This distinction between counting and measuring is useful for formal reports and Cambridge B2 writing tasks.

Less vs Fewer Exercises

Quick Rule

All 20 questions

Continue Practising

Quantifiers Error Correction

Countable and Uncountable Error Correction

Much/Many Practice

-ed vs -ing Adjectives

Conditionals

Present Perfect