There are two types of main comparisons. Those that indicate similarity and those that indicate difference. Both kinds of comparisons can be found using the word pairs listed both. These words must appear together as they cannot be mixed and matched with each other or paired with other words.

Comparing Amounts

• Fewer and many referred things that are quantifiable, things that can be counted. There are followed by plural nouns.

• less and much referred to things that are not quantifiable, things that cannot be counted. They are followed by singular nouns.

Fewer vs Less

• "Fewer" and "less" are both used to indicate a smaller quantity or number, but they are used in different contexts.

• "Fewer" is used when referring to countable nouns, which are things that can be counted individually. For example: "There are fewer apples in the basket."

• "Less" is used when referring to uncountable nouns, which are things that cannot be counted individually. For example: "There is less water in the glass."

• "Fewer" emphasizes a decrease in the number of items, while "less" emphasizes a decrease in the amount or quantity of something.

• "Fewer" is often used with plural nouns, while "less" is used with singular nouns. For example: "There are fewer cars on the road" (plural) and "There is less pollution in the air" (singular).

• It is important to note that "less" can also be used with plural nouns when referring to a collective quantity or a whole. For example: "Less than ten people attended the meeting."

• In some cases, "fewer" and "less" can be used interchangeably, especially in informal speech. However, it is generally recommended to use them correctly according to the rules mentioned above.

• To summarize, "fewer" is used with countable nouns to indicate a smaller number, while "less" is used with uncountable nouns to indicate a smaller amount or quantity.

Many vs Much

• Many is used with countable nouns, while much is used with uncountable nouns.

• Many is used to indicate a large number or quantity of something that can be counted, such as people, books, or cars.

• Much is used to indicate a large amount or quantity of something that cannot be counted, such as water, information, or time.

• Examples of using many:

  • "There are many students in the classroom."

  • "She has read many books this year."

  • "How many cars are parked outside?"

• Examples of using much:

  • "There is too much sugar in this recipe."

  • "He doesn't have much time to complete the task."

  • "How much water do you drink every day?"

• Many is often used in questions and negative sentences, while much is more commonly used in positive statements.

• When using many or much in a sentence, it is important to consider the context and whether the noun is countable or uncountable.

• In some cases, both many and much can be used interchangeably, but the choice depends on the specific noun being referred to.

• It is also worth noting that many and much can be used with comparative and superlative forms, such as "more" and "most," to indicate a greater or the greatest number or amount.

Other Specific Examples

A. As…as

As…as is used to indicate that two people or things are equal

• Incorrect: Among people of modern dance, Jeff Is as renowned a dancer and choreographer than Dan

• Correct: Among people of modern dance, Jeff Is as renowned a dancer and choreographer as Dan

B. Not Only…but (also)

Saying that something is not only x but (also) y means that it is x as well as y.

• Incorrect: Dan was not only a great dancer and he was a great choreographer

• Correct: Dan was not only a great dancer but he was also as a great choreographer

C. More/-Er…than, Less…than

• Incorrect: Measuring 25 feet, a python named Medusa is longer as any other snake in the world.

• Correct: Measuring 25 feet, a python name Medusa is longer than any other snake in the world.