Sign Up For Our Free Grammar E-Newsletter

Fewer vs. Less

Fewer refers to things that are countable.

Example: We had fewer people at the fundraiser than we had hoped.
Example: Fewer tornadoes occurred this year than last year.

Generally, less refers to things that are not countable.

Example: Sue has less concern for her dog’s safety now that the backyard fence is completed.
Example: Less talking would help my concentration.

However, the expression less than is used in front of a plural noun that denotes a measure of distance, amount, or time.

Example: We will go on vacation in less than four weeks.
Example: She owes him less than $30.
Example: We had less than 25 miles to go but ran out of gas.

Less or fewer may be used with plural nouns with the expression no ___ than.

Example: No less than 300 people showed up for the concert. OR No fewer than 300 people showed up for the concert.

Use less with the expression or less.

Example: Write a paragraph about an environmental issue in 200 words or less.

Pop Quiz

1. I need less/fewer advice and more open-minded questions.
2. We had less/fewer injuries on the team than our coach expected.
3. No fewer/less than eight students flunked the exam.
4. We had fewer than/less than two hours before we had to take the exam.
5. Fewer/Less seats were filled for the concert because of the rain.
6. No fewer/less than 30 people applied for the job.
7. The muffin should cost a dollar or fewer/less.

Answers

1. less
2. fewer
3. fewer OR less
4. less than
5. fewer
6. fewer OR less
7. less

Posted on Wednesday, April 18th, 2007 at 12:46 am

When to Add “s” to a Verb

If you feel confident about forming plurals in English by adding an “s” or “es” at the end of the word, I’m about to make you feel a little wobbly. Although most noun plurals are formed this way, verb plurals are formed by removing the “s.”

For example, which verb is plural, talk or talks? Because you would say, “He talks,” talks is the singular verb. You would say, “They talk.” Therefore, talk is the plural verb.

Example: The position listed on the university Web site caught my attention because my education, experience, and training closely parallel/parallels your needs.

Answer: This sentence has two sets of subjects and verbs. The first subject/verb combination is position/caught. The second set of subjects is education, experience, and training, which is plural. We would say, “They parallel” so we must write or say, “…my education, experience, and training closely parallel your needs.”

Example: If he or she needs/need me, I will be in the other room.

Answer: In this sentence, he and she are the subjects; however, they are connected by or so we use the singular verb needs.

Pop Quiz

1. When he and Jenny walks/walk to work, they hold hands.
2. They leaves/leave at the end of the year for a month-long vacation.
3. Her dog, cat, and chicken gets/get along well together.
4. When he gets/get angry, his face turns red.
5. She goes/go away every August.

Answers

1. walk (plural)
2. leave (plural)
3. get (plural)
4. gets (singular)
5. goes (singular)

Posted on Saturday, April 14th, 2007 at 8:44 pm

Writing Numbers

English has many rules for writing numbers and just as many authorities disagreeing with each other about them. Here are some general rules that you may wish to keep handy.

Rule: Spell out single-digit whole numbers.

Example: I would like five copies.

Rule: Use numerals for numbers greater than nine.

Example: I would like 10 copies.

Rule: Be consistent within a category. If you choose numerals because one of the numbers is greater than nine, use numerals for all numbers in that category. If you choose to spell out numbers because one of the numbers is a single digit, spell out all numbers in that category.

Examples:
My 10 cats fought with their 2 cats.
OR
My ten cats fought with their two cats.

Incorrect: I asked for five pencils, not 50.

Rule: If you have numbers in different categories, use numerals for one category and spell out the other.

Example: Given the budget constraints, if all 30 history students attend the four plays, then the 7 math students will be able to attend only two plays.

Note that students are represented with figures and plays are represented with words.

Examples:
I asked for 30 pencils for my five employees.
I have 10 toes but only one nose.

Quiz:
A or B?

1. A. I have 11 cats and two turtles. B. I have eleven cats and 2 turtles.
2. A. We have 23 people in our class. B. We have twenty-three people in our class.
3. A. I need 3 pieces of paper, not twelve. B. I need 3 pieces of paper, not 12.

Answers:

1. A
2. A
3. B

Posted on Saturday, April 14th, 2007 at 4:33 am

Good vs. Well

Good is an adjective while well is an adverb answering the question how.

Examples:
You did a good job.
Good describes job, which is a noun, so good is an adjective.

You did the job well.
Well answers how the job was performed.

Rule: With the four senses—look, smell, taste, feel—discern if these words are being used actively to decide whether to follow them with good or well.

Examples:
You smell good today.
Good describes you, not how you sniff with your nose.

You smell well for someone with a cold.
You are sniffing actively with your nose here so use the adverb.

She looks good for a 75-year-old grandmother.
She is not looking actively with eyes so use the adjective.

Rule: When referring to health, always use well.

Examples:
I do not feel well today.
You do not look well.

Rule: When describing someone’s emotional state, use good.

Example: He doesn’t feel good about having cheated.

So, how should you answer the question, “How are you?” If you think someone is asking about your physical well-being, answer, “I feel well,” or “I don’t feel well.” If someone is asking about your emotional state, answer, “I feel good,” or “I don’t feel good.” To get around this problem, you could answer, “I feel fine,” “I feel great,” or “I feel sick.”

Quiz
1. She jogged very good/well for her age.
2. She had a good/well time yesterday.
3. With a high fever, it is unlikely he will feel good/well enough to play basketball tomorrow.
4. Those glasses look good/well on you.

Answers

1. well
2. good
3. well
4. good

Posted on Friday, April 6th, 2007 at 11:07 pm

Adjectives and Adverbs: Forms for Comparison

A common error in using adjectives and adverbs arises from using the wrong form for comparison.

Incorrect Example: She is the poorest of the two women.

Correct Examples:
She is poor. (positive form)
She is the poorer of the two women. (comparative form)
She is the poorest of them all. (superlative form)


Some words have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

Examples:
bad/worse/worst
good/better/best

Incorrect Example: She is the best candidate of the two for the job.

Correct Example: She is the better candidate of the two for the job.

Many one-syllable adjectives and adverbs may be compared by adding –er or –est.

Examples:
sweet/sweeter/sweetest
nice/nicer/nicest
silly/sillier/silliest
big/bigger/biggest

Some one-syllable words, such as fun, are exceptions. You must use more or most with fun.

Example: Learning English grammar is more fun than I thought it would be.

Usually, with words of three or more syllables, don’t add –er or –est. Use more or most in front of the words. Never use both the –er or –est suffix and more or most.

Example: efficient/more efficient/most efficient

Incorrect Example: He is more efficienter at using the PowerPoint program than his boss is.

Correct Example: He is more efficient at using the PowerPoint program than his boss is.


When comparing with an –ly adverb, keep the –ly and add more or most.

Incorrect Example: She spoke quicker than he did.

Correct Examples: She spoke quickly.
She spoke more quickly than he did.

Incorrect Example: Talk quieter.

Correct Examples: Talk quietly.
Talk more quietly.


Quiz: Are these sentences correct or incorrect?

1. You are the funnest person I know.
2. I can run more faster than you can.
3. I can run more quickly than you can.
4. My brother is the youngest of the two of us.
5. She is the best of the two sisters at braiding hair.

Answers

1. Incorrect (most fun)
2. Incorrect (faster)
3. Correct
4. Incorrect (younger)
5. Incorrect (better)

Posted on Sunday, April 1st, 2007 at 3:45 am