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Comparative and Superlative Structures – Using ‘Less’ and ‘The Least’

Learn how to use less and the least in comparative and superlative sentences. Understand how to say less interesting vs. the least expensive correctly.

What Are Comparative and Superlative Forms?

Comparative adjectives compare two things (e.g., smaller, more beautiful, less expensive). Superlative adjectives compare three or more things to show the highest or lowest degree (e.g., smallest, most beautiful, the least expensive).

What Are 'Less' and 'The Least'?

'Less' is used to compare two things and show that one has a smaller degree of a quality. 'The least' is used to show the lowest degree of a quality among three or more things.

Why Is This Important?

Understanding 'less' and 'the least' helps express comparisons in a clear and precise way, especially when describing things in a negative or weaker sense.

Key Points

  • Use 'less' for comparing two things
    • This movie is less interesting than the book.
    • She is less tired today than yesterday.
  • Use 'the least' for comparing three or more things
    • This is the least expensive hotel in town.
    • He is the least experienced person on the team.
  • Use 'less' and 'the least' with adjectives, adverbs, and nouns
    • She is less confident than her sister. (adjective)
    • He speaks less clearly than before. (adverb)
    • We have less time to finish the project. (noun)

Rules for Using 'Less' and 'The Least'

  • Use 'less' to compare two things

    • This book is less exciting than the movie.
    • He is less confident than his brother.
    • They arrived less early than expected.

  • Use 'the least' to compare three or more things

    • This is the least expensive option.
    • She is the least friendly person in the group.
    • That was the least interesting speech of the evening.

  • 'Less' and 'the least' can be used with adjectives, adverbs, and uncountable nouns

    • Adjective: She is less confident than her sister.
    • Adverb: He speaks less clearly now.
    • Noun: We have less money than before.

  • Special Cases & Exceptions:

    Some adjectives do not normally use 'less' and 'the least'. Instead, their opposites are used.

  • Adjectives with opposite meanings should be used instead of 'less'.

    • Incorrect: He is less tall than his brother.
    • Correct: He is shorter than his brother.

  • 'Less' and 'the least' are not typically used with short adjectives.

    • Incorrect: This room is less big than that one.
    • Correct: This room is smaller than that one.
ExampleTenseUse
This movie is less interesting than the book.Comparative'Less' used for comparing two things
This is the least expensive hotel in town.Superlative'The least' used for comparing three or more things
She is less tired today than yesterday.Comparative'Less' used for lower degree of an adjective
He is the least experienced person on the team.Superlative'The least' used for the lowest degree among three or more

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the creators of these videos. These are publicly available resources used to provide additional information on the topic.