Kooyeen  +  386266 Sat, 30 Jun 07 03:11 PM Hi, There were 10 apples. Now there are 9. So, there's one less apple. (or "one apple less"?) I have lots of things to do. I already went to the mall. So, I now have one less thing to do. (or "one thing less to do"?) When I use "more", I put it between the number and the object: one more apple, two more things to do, etc. When I want it the other way around, where is "less" usually placed? Thanks Warning: in case "fewer" crosses the reader's mind, I suggest forgetting any prescriptive approach before answering. Prescriptivists will be prosecuted. Kooyeen Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005 Italy Senior Member 4,985 Parental Advisory / Explicit Posts

	Clive  +  386375 Sat, 30 Jun 07 10:04 PM Hi, there's one less apple. (or "one apple less"?) Both seem fine. Without checking Google, I wouldn't want to guess which is more commonly used. Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,679 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

	Kooyeen  +  386683 Sun, 01 Jul 07 07:26 PM I see, thank you Kooyeen

	New2grammar  +  386687 Sun, 01 Jul 07 07:34 PM This recipe uses two less(er) apples than that. Do you use 'less' or 'lesser' in sentences like this? Thanks in advance! New2grammar Joined on Tue, Nov 21 2006 Veteran Member 7,676 Who wants to go sailing around the world with me?

	Kooyeen  +  386690 Sun, 01 Jul 07 07:47 PM Hi N2G, I wouldn't use "lesser", I believe "lesser" is used another way, in other kinds of expressions (see a dictionary for learners for some examples like "The law was designed to protect wifes and, to a lesser extent, children.") In your example, I would say: If you follow this recipe you'll use two apples less than that one. ...putting "less" after "apples". I think it's because I like to see "less" close to "than" in a comparison. But I'm not completely sure, I actually asked about the position of that "less" in such constructions, and it seems there's no general rule, so... Kooyeen Constructions

	nona the brit  +  387055 Mon, 02 Jul 07 03:08 PM lesser means smaller. nona the brit Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004 England Veteran Member 11,713 The name says it all.