What is less? Pronunciation and usage in English

less means . Learn how to pronounce and use less through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of less

lessdeterminer

/lɛs/
Definition & pronunciation of less

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "less" in English. It's a tricky one for many learners! Here's a breakdown:

The most common and accepted pronunciation is:

  • /lɛs/ (rhymes with "mess")

Let's break that down further:

  • "le": This sounds like the "mess" in "stress." It's a short, quick "eh" sound.
  • "ss": This is where it gets tricky. The "ss" is pronounced as a single, slightly sibilant (sly) 's' sound. It’s not a doubled "s" like in "success." Think of a quick, gentle "s" sound.

Here's a helpful breakdown of the sounds:

  • IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet): lɛs
  • Phonetic Transcription (simplified): “less” (rhymes with mess)

Common Mispronunciations & Why They're Wrong:

  • "lez": This is a super common mistake! It's incorrect.
  • "less" with a long "e" sound (like "end"): You're saying "leess." It's not the same sound.

Resources for hearing it:

  • Google Search: Search "how to pronounce less" on Google and listen to the audio examples.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/less/ – This website has pronunciations from native speakers.
  • YouTube: Search for "how to pronounce less" on YouTube – you'll find many pronunciation guides.

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from? (Your native language can influence pronunciation.)

Usage and examples with the word less in English

Let's break down how to use the word "less" in English. It's a versatile word with several different functions. Here's a detailed explanation:

1. As a Determiner (Reducing Quantity)

This is the most common use of "less." It indicates a smaller amount than something else. It comes before a noun.

  • Example: “I have less money than you.” (mon-ee)
  • Example: “There are less cars on the road today.” (cars)
  • Example: “She drinks less coffee than she used to.” (coffee)
  • Important Note: When using "less" with uncountable nouns (like water, time, happiness), you often need to use a unit of measurement. For example: “I have less than a cup of water.”

2. As an Adverb (Comparing Amounts - Often with "than")

“Less” is frequently used with “than” to make comparisons.

  • Example: “He is less tall than his brother.” (tall)
  • Example: “This book is less interesting than the last one.” (interesting)
  • Example: “She speaks less Spanish than she speaks English.” (Spanish, English)

3. As Part of the Phrase "Less than"

“Less than” is a common combination that means “not as much as” or “smaller than.”

  • Example: “The price is less than $20.” (price)
  • Example: “I have less than five minutes to finish.” (minutes)

4. In Expressions (Idiomatic Uses)

“Less” appears in several fixed expressions:

  • “Less and less”: Meaning increasingly less. “I’m seeing less and less of my friends lately.”
  • “Less of a problem”: Meaning a smaller problem. "The issue is less of a problem now that we've implemented the new strategy."
  • "Less important": Not as important. “This detail is less important than focusing on the big picture.”

Key Differences and Common Mistakes:

  • “Fewer” vs. “Less”: This is a frequent area of confusion.

    • Use “fewer” for countable nouns (things you can count individually - e.g., apples, people, books). “I have fewer apples than you.”
    • Use “less” for uncountable nouns (things you can’t count individually - e.g., water, time, money). “I have less water.”

  • “Than” is crucial: "Less" almost always appears with "than" when comparing two amounts.

Let's Practice!

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

  1. I have ______ books than you.
  2. There is ______ traffic on the highway today.
  3. He is ______ careful now than he used to be.
  4. We need ______ sugar in this cake.
  5. I feel ______ tired after the long hike.

Answers:

  1. fewer
  2. less
  3. less
  4. less
  5. less

Do you want me to:

  • Give you more examples?
  • Explain a specific use of "less" in more detail?
  • Give you some exercises to practice?

Synonyms for the word less

Idioms of the word less

less and less
smaller and smaller amounts; at a rate that is decreasing
  • As time passed, she saw less and less of all her old friends at home.
  • There used to be TV shows that everyone would watch at the same time and talk about the next day, but that happens less and less.
less is more
(saying)including only what is essential can create a more effective product or result
  • His simple, elegant paintings reflect his principle that less is more.
no less
(often ironic)used to suggest that something is surprising or impressive
  • She's having lunch with the Director, no less.
no less than…
used to emphasize a large amount
  • The seller expects to get no less than $10 000 for the artwork.

Practice with vocabulary less

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. With proper planning, the project should require _____ effort from the team members.
  2. There are _____ opportunities for growth in this saturated market due to intense competition.
  3. The new policy is proving to be _____ effective than initially projected, needing further review.
  4. Many employees are concerned _____ the lack of transparency in the company's decision-making process.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. The company needs to find ways to spend _____ on operational costs to improve its profit margins. A) least B) fewer C) less D) minimum

  2. Compared to last quarter, the current sales figures are _____ encouraging, indicating a market slowdown. A) barely B) less C) hardly D) slightly

  3. Effective time management can lead to _____ stress and _____ opportunities for procrastination. A) fewer B) less C) reduced D) decreased

  4. The new software update resulted in a _____ number of system crashes, improving overall user experience. A) minimal B) few C) fewer D) hardly

  5. Employees are encouraged to provide feedback, _____ that their concerns go unaddressed by management. A) unless B) lest C) despite D) although

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. It is important to decrease the amount of waste produced by the factory.

    • Rewrite starting with: The factory must aim to...

  2. The presentation was not as engaging as we had hoped.

    • Rewrite starting with: The presentation was...

  3. There has been a significant reduction in the number of applications this year.

    • Rewrite starting with: This year, the number of applications...

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. With proper planning, the project should require less effort from the team members.
  2. There are fewer opportunities for growth in this saturated market due to intense competition.
  3. The new policy is proving to be less effective than initially projected, needing further review.
  4. Many employees are concerned about the lack of transparency in the company's decision-making process.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. C) less
  2. B) less
  3. B) less, D) decreased (Note: "Fewer" would apply if "opportunities for procrastination" were quantifiable items, but here it refers to the amount of such opportunities, making "less" or "reduced/decreased" suitable. If "opportunities" referred to discrete chances, "fewer" would also be correct for the second blank. Given the context, "less stress" is definite, and "decreased opportunities" fits well too. "Reduced" is also a good fit for both.)
  4. C) fewer
  5. B) lest

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The factory must aim to produce less waste.
  2. The presentation was less engaging than we had hoped.
  3. This year, the number of applications has significantly decreased.

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