LONGMAN ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRACTICE

5.4 'Much', 'many', 'a lot of, '(a) few', '(a) little', 'fewer', 'less'

Write: Supply few, a few, little or a little in these sentences.

1 There are very scholarships for students in this university.

2 I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you for more time to pay this bill.

3 If you don't hurry we'll miss our train. There's time to spare.

4 It's a difficult text. I've had to look up quite words in the dictionary.

5 I can't spare any of these catalogues. There are only left.

6 I can't let you use much of this perfume. There's only in the bottle.

7 There are who know about this, so keep it to yourself.

8 If what you say is true, there is we can do about it.

5.4D 'Fewer' and 'less' [> LEG 5.16]

Study:^1 Fewer is the comparative of few (few, fewer, the fewest).

Less is the comparative of little (little, less, the least [> 6.5C]).

2 Fewer goes with plural countables: Fewer videos have been imported this year than last.

3 Less goes with uncountables: Less oil has been produced this year than last.

4 Informally, we often use less with uncountables. Some native speakers think it's wrong:

Less people are travelling abroad this year.

People are buying less newspapers than they used to.

Write: Supply fewer or less in these sentences.

1 The you pay, thefßiitt/r'services you get. 4 New cars need servicing than old ones.

2 We've had complaints this year. 5 People have money to spend this year.

3 I've had lessons than you. 6 Sue's got homework than Tom.

5.4E Context

Write: Put in a little, a lot of, a few, few, fewer, many or much.

IS ar А.ь

DON'T CALL US, WE'LL CALL YOU!

Two years ago I moved to a new neighbourhood. There seem to be

very^1 f.bfM. people in this area who are without telephones, so

I expected to get a new phone quickly. I applied for one as soon as I

moved into my new house. 'We aren't supplying^2 new

phones in your area,' an engineer told me.^13 people want

new phones at the moment and the company is employing

(^4) engineers than last year so as to save money. A new
phone won't cost you^5 money, but it will take
(^6) time. We can't do anything for you before December.'
You need^7 patience if you're waiting for a new phone
and you need^8 friends whose phones you can use as
well. Fortunately, I had both. December came and went, but there
was no sign of a phone. I went to the company's local office to
protest. 'They told me I'd have a phone by December,' I protested.
'Which year?' the assistant asked.
Which year?