Less vs. Least
'Less' and 'least' are used a lot in English so it is important to know their differences.
What Are Their Main Differences?
'Less' refers to a small amount, while 'least' refers to the smallest amount or number.
Differences
Singular or plural Nouns?
- 'Less':
is followed by a singular uncountable noun. However, native speakers and even English learners use 'less' before countable nouns. Some people consider it wrong ,but it is actually correct.
They waste
The cat drinks
- 'Least':
is followed by singular uncountable and plural countable nouns. Remember, you cannot use singular countable nouns after 'least'.
One of the
He has the
What They Refer to
- 'Less':
refers to a smaller amount or degree. We mean in a sentence when we use 'less' it implies that something is used or done at a smaller amount or degree. besides nouns. 'less' can be used before some adjectives to make them comparative adjectives.
Using this new shampoo made me lose
Now his emotion seems
- 'Least':
refers to the smallest amount or degree. It means when 'less' is used in a sentence it implies that something is used or done at the smallest amount or degree. besides nouns. 'least' can be used before some adjectives to make them superlative adjectives.
My
I want to give away some of my
Grammatical Functions
- 'Less':
- Preposition
- Suffix
Less as a preposition means taking away or refers to an amount or number that is not included. As a suffix, it is added to some adjectives to imply that something is defined as without the particular adjective.
My friend paid back his debt
We wished them an
- 'Least':
has three word classes since they are mutual with the word classes of the term 'less' we will discuss them in the similarities part.
Similarities
Grammatical Functions
- 'Less' and 'least':
- Determiners
- Pronouns
- Adverbs
As determiners, they are used before nouns. 'least' and 'less' as pronouns can be used without a noun or they are not immediately followed by a noun. As adverbs, they are used before adjectives or adverbs or even after verbs to define them. 'Less' makes comparative adjectives and 'least' makes superlative adjectives. Remember, least is considered a superlative adjective and as a result, when you are comparing, it is between a set of more than two. And 'less' is used to form comparative adjectives, so the comparison is between a set of two.
I drink
Here, in this example 'less' is used as a 'determiner' since there is a noun after it.
The
I have done nearly everything; the
He consented to buy the
I can't care
Less and Least as Quantifiers
Both 'less' and 'least' can be used as quantifiers before different classes of words. As you know, quantifiers are words that are used to refer to numbers, amounts, degrees, etc.
Please control yourself and be
Here in this example 'less' is a quantifier that is followed by an adjective (worried).
My uncle is the
