Grammar：Fewer and less

【明報專訊】Pat and MoMo are shopping for summer clothes. What is happening in the boutique?

MoMo: Shall we get dresses?

Pat: Sure! I love dresses. (1) They make me look less chubby. Go go go!

MoMo: Look! These two floral dresses are cute.

Pat: I like the purple one, but I'm afraid it doesn't fit me.

MoMo: Don't worry! You aren't as chubby as you think! (2) Just drink less cola and you'll stay fit.

Pat: Let's get to the cashier. Oh no! I haven't got enough money with me!

MoMo: Well, (3) you should have bought fewer necklaces. I can lend you some money. Just pay me back next time.

Pat: Thanks a lot!

“ Pat: You should get one too! ”

“ MoMo: I should spend less money on clothes. ”

■English highway﹕ uses of "fewer" and "less"

In example (1), Pat used "less" to qualify adjective, but not "fewer". In examples (2) and (3), MoMo used "fewer" for countable nouns and "less" for uncountable nouns.

■Quiz

Fill in the blanks with "fewer" or "less".

1. There are _________ people in Hong Kong ten years ago than now.

2. We should use _________ water to save the environment.

3. My broken arm is _________ painful now.

(Answers on next text)

■Glossary

boutique (n) 時裝店

chubby (adj) 胖乎乎的

floral (adj) 以花卉圖案裝飾的

[Smarties' Power English Vol 187]