Meaning & use
fewer
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Meanings
determiner
A smaller number of people or things, used with plural countable nouns.
Grammar: Used before plural nouns: fewer cars, fewer people. Not used with uncountable nouns.
Patterns
- fewer than
- fewer people/things
- no fewer than
There are fewer students in the class this year.
She has fewer friends than she used to.
Fewer than ten people showed up to the meeting.
pronoun
A smaller number of them, used when the noun is understood.
Grammar: Stands alone when the noun is clear from context: 'I have many, but she has fewer.'
Patterns
- fewer of them
- have fewer
Many were invited, but fewer came.
Of the two options, this one has fewer.
Common combinations
- fewer than
- Fewer than five people applied for the job.
- no fewer than
- No fewer than fifty guests attended the wedding.
- fewer and fewer
- Fewer and fewer young people are learning to drive.
- fewer in number
- The birds are fewer in number this year.
Synonyms and how they differ
- less
- Used with uncountable nouns (less water), while fewer is for countable nouns.
- not as many
- A phrase meaning the same but often less formal.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: fewer or less?
fewer vs less
Used with uncountable nouns (less money), while fewer is for countable nouns (fewer coins).
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
Water is uncountable, so use 'less' and the singular verb 'is'. 'Fewer' is for countable nouns.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fewer”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.