subject + be/verb + less + adjective/adverb + than + comparison targetUse this pattern to compare two items and show a lower degree.
Less and Least
B1Use less for a lower degree in a comparison of two. Use the least for the minimum degree in a group or set.
What you'll learn
- Compare two things with less + adjective/adverb + than.
- Show the minimum in a group with the least + adjective/adverb.
- Add than after less in direct comparisons.
- Use the with least when one item is lowest in a set.
- Choose less and least when the meaning goes down, not up.
Structure
subject + be/verb + the least + adjective/adverb + group phraseUse this pattern when one item has the minimum degree in a group or set.
Build a sentence
Subject
Word
AnnaislessexpensivethanMaria
Anna is less expensive than Maria.
Use less + adjective + than for a lower degree between two people or things.
When to use
Two-item comparison
Compare one thing with another when one has a lower degree: less noisy than, less carefully than, less useful than.
Minimum in a group
Pick one item as the lowest point in a class, team, list, or set: the least expensive, the least often, the least helpful.
Downward scale
Use these forms when the idea is lower, smaller in degree, weaker, or not as much. Do not use them for upward comparison.
Markers
of the threeof the fourin the classon the teamin the groupamong all the options
Common mistakes
Wrong
This route is more convenient than the highway.
Correct
This route is less convenient than the highway.
Use less when the meaning is a lower degree, not a higher one.
Wrong
Tom is less tired Maria.
Correct
Tom is less tired than Maria.
In a direct comparison of two items, less is followed by than.
Wrong
Lisa is least confident on the team.
Correct
Lisa is the least confident on the team.
Use the least to mark one item as the minimum in a group.
Wrong
Of the four cafés, this one is less popular.
Correct
Of the four cafés, this one is the least popular.
A whole group needs least, not less. Less compares two items; least picks the minimum in the set.
Wrong
This chair is less smaller than that one.
Correct
This chair is less small than that one.
Do not combine less with an -er form. Use only one comparison marker.
Common misconceptions
❝ Less only works with nouns, so it cannot go before adjectives or adverbs. ❞
Less works before adjectives and adverbs too: less expensive, less clearly, less often.
❝ Least is just a stronger form of less, so I can use it for any comparison of two. ❞
Least marks the minimum in a group or set. For a direct comparison of two, use less.
Skills in this rule (7)
USE_LESS_FOR_LOWER_DEGREEw5Use less to compare a lower degree between two things
Use less before adjectives and adverbs to show that one person, thing, or action has a lower degree than another. It answers the idea of not as much in a shorter comparison.
USE_LEAST_FOR_MINIMUM_IN_GROUPw5Use least for the minimum degree in a group
Use the least before adjectives and adverbs to show the lowest degree inside a group of three or more, or inside a clear set. It points to the minimum point on the scale.
ADD_THAN_AFTER_LESSw4Add than after less in two-item comparisons
In direct comparisons, less is followed by than before the second person or thing. The pattern is less + adjective/adverb + than.
USE_THE_LEASTw4Use the with least before adjectives and adverbs
When least marks the minimum point in a group, use the least. The article signals that one item is at the lowest point among all the options.
USE_WITH_ADJECTIVES_AND_ADVERBSw4Use less and least before adjectives and adverbs
Put less or least before words like expensive, interesting, carefully, or often. They do not attach to the end of the word.
USE_FOR_DOWNWARD_COMPARISONw3Choose less and least for downward comparison
Use less and least when the scale goes down, not up. They fit meanings like lower degree, smaller amount of quality, or minimum intensity.
SPOT_MINIMUM_MARKERSw3Recognize group markers that often go with least
Words like of the three, in the class, and on the team often show a group, so the least is a strong choice. These markers help you see that the sentence needs the minimum item in a set.