Less and Least
B1 · IntermediateAdjectivesLess and least work like more and most, but in the opposite direction: less expensive means 'to a smaller degree', not 'not expensive'.
What you'll learn
- Less + adjective + than: compares two things downward (less expensive than)
- The least + adjective: picks the smallest degree in a group (the least expensive)
- Less/least work with adjectives of any length, unlike more/most and -er/-est
- Less goes with uncountable nouns; fewer goes with countable nouns — don't confuse the two
The downward comparison
You've already learned more and most for comparing upward. Less and least do the same job in the opposite direction. 'This laptop is less expensive than that one' doesn't mean 'not expensive' — it means the same comparison as more, just flipped.
The least: the smallest degree in a group
Just as most picks out the highest degree among three or more things, the least picks out the lowest. 'Of all the candidates, he was the least qualified' means every other candidate was more qualified than him.
Less vs fewer — don't mix them up
Less goes with uncountable nouns (less time, less money, less salt). Fewer goes with countable plural nouns (fewer people, fewer friends, fewer features). This is one of the most common mistakes even among fluent speakers — 'less features' should be 'fewer features'.
As a comparative before an adjective (less expensive, less dangerous), it's always less, never fewer — fewer only replaces less directly before a countable plural noun.
Real English
Watch out
Features is a countable plural noun, so it needs fewer, not less.
Lesser is a separate, more formal word ('a lesser evil') — the ordinary comparative you need here is less.
Comparing among three or more (all the candidates) needs the superlative the least, not the comparative less.
Real life — Choosing between two laptops
"So which one are you going to get?"
"Probably this one — it's less powerful, but it's also way less expensive."
"Is that a big deal for what you need it for?"
"Not really — it's the least demanding thing I'll use it for anyway."
Practice
Exercise 1 · Choose the correct word
This laptop is ___ expensive than that one.
Exercise 2 · Choose the correct word
This is the ___ interesting book of the three.
Exercise 3 · Choose the correct word
She is ___ experienced than her colleague.
Exercise 4 · Choose the correct word
Of all the candidates, he was the ___ qualified.
Exercise 5 · Choose the correct word
This route is ___ dangerous than the other one.
Exercise 6 · Fix the mistake
Fix the mistake:
Exercise 7 · Choose the equivalent sentence
Which means the same as 'This test wasn't as difficult as the last one'?
Exercise 8 · Complete the sentence
Complete: This soup has ___ salt than I expected. (one word)
Exercise 9 · Complete the sentence
Complete: Of all my classes, chemistry is the ___ boring. (opposite of 'most boring', one word)
Exercise 10 · Build the sentence
Exercise 11 · Choose the correct word
This was the ___ difficult exam I've ever taken.
Quick challenge
Five quick questions to check what stuck.
Question 1 / 5
Score: 0/0
This bag is ___ heavy than that one.
You learned
- Less + adjective + than compares two things downward — the mirror of more...than.
- The least + adjective picks the smallest degree among three or more.
- Less and least work with adjectives of any length.
- Less goes with uncountable nouns; fewer goes with countable plural nouns — don't mix them up.
Related grammar lessons
Adjective Forms
Learn the common suffixes that turn nouns and verbs into adjectives (-ful, -less, -ous, -able, -ive) and the prefixes that make an adjective negative (un-, in-, im-, dis-, ir-).
As...As Comparisons
Learn how to say two things are equal with as...as, how to say they're not equal with not as...as, and how to compare by a multiple with twice/half as...as.
Gradable vs Non-Gradable Adjectives
Learn why you can say 'very cold' but not 'very freezing' — gradable adjectives allow degrees, non-gradable adjectives are already extreme or absolute and take different intensifiers.
-ed vs -ing Adjectives
Learn the difference between adjectives like bored and boring — -ed describes how someone feels, -ing describes the thing or situation that causes the feeling.