Less

We use the quantifier less to talk about reduced quantities, amounts or degree. Less is a comparative word.

Less: position

We use less with different classes of words. We use less after verbs but before every other word class:

[talking about a car]

This model consumes less fuel. (less + noun)

[sign on a bus]

Give up this seat to someone less able to stand. (less + adjective)

Second class post arrives less quickly than first class. (less + adverb)

It costs less to go by bus than by train. (verb + less)

See also:

Determiners (the, my, some, this)

Little, a little, few, a few

Less with nouns

We use less on its own with singular uncountable nouns:

You’ve got less chance of passing if you don’t work hard.

Small local shops can be more expensive and can have less choice.

Less of

Whenever we use less before articles (a/an, the), demonstratives (this, that), possessives (my, your) or pronouns (him, it), we need of:

Doctors and nutritionists always seem to be telling us to eat less of the food we enjoy.

There was less of a crowd at the match today than at last week’s.

We see less of them since they moved away.

Less without a noun (as a pronoun)

We usually leave out the noun after less when the noun is understood:

That’s too much pasta for me. Can I have less? (less pasta)

Less and less

We often use less and less to emphasise a decrease in something:

Ever since I met you, my work has seemed less and less important.

I’ve been sleeping less and less.

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