less + 不可数名词
用于不可数名词前，表示数量更少。
We need less sugar in this recipe.
这个食谱我们需要少放点糖。
更少的；较少的
较差的；较低等的；(little的比较级,通常用于不可数名词)表示数量或程度较小的量词；(通常前接no)质量较低的；(在某些用法中非标准,但常与度量短语搭配)较少的
not as great in amount or degree (used with mass nouns)
用于不可数名词
(little的比较级,通常用于不可数名词)表示数量或程度较小的量词
(comparative of `little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree
(通常前接no)质量较低的
(usually preceded by `no') lower in quality
(在某些用法中非标准,但常与度量短语搭配)较少的
(nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases) fewer
I drink less coffee now because it keeps me awake at night.
我现在喝咖啡少了，因为咖啡让我晚上睡不着。
用法提示：此处less为形容词，修饰不可数名词coffee，表示数量更少。
AI contextual example
This recipe uses less sugar than the old one, so it tastes lighter.
这个食谱用糖比旧食谱少，所以味道更清淡。
用法提示：此处less修饰不可数名词sugar，与than搭配表示比……更少。
AI contextual example
She has less patience with rude customers than her colleague.
她对粗鲁的顾客比她的同事更没有耐心。
用法提示：此处less修饰抽象名词patience，表示程度更低。
AI contextual example
用于不可数名词前，表示数量更少。
We need less sugar in this recipe.
这个食谱我们需要少放点糖。
用于比较，表示前者在数量或程度上不及后者。
She has less experience than her colleague.
她的经验比她的同事少。
表示“少于”，后接具体数量或数字。
The trip took less than two hours.
这次旅行用了不到两个小时。
grammar · medium
易错句子There are less students in the classroom than before.
正确表达There are fewer students in the classroom than before.
less 通常修饰不可数名词，表示“较少的量”；students 是可数名词复数，应使用 fewer 表示“更少的数量”。在正式英语中，fewer 用于可数名词复数，less 用于不可数名词。
grammar · medium
易错句子To a less extent, this rule also applies to spoken English.
正确表达To a lesser extent, this rule also applies to spoken English.
固定搭配 to a lesser extent 表示“在较小程度上”；less 是 little 的比较级，通常不直接修饰 extent 这类可数名词单数来表示“较小的”。因此这里要用 lesser。
grammar · medium
易错句子She is the less experienced of the three candidates.
正确表达She is the least experienced of the three candidates.
三者或三者以上进行比较时，要用最高级 least；less 是两者之间的比较级。这里比较范围是 three candidates，所以应用 the least experienced。
fewer 修饰可数名词复数，如 fewer books；less 修饰不可数名词，如 less water。口语中 less 也常接复数名词，但正式写作仍作区分。
lesser 只作定语，指重要性或等级较低，如 a lesser role；表示数量少时用 less，如 less money，不能换成 lesser money。
lessen 是动词，表示使变小或变轻，如 lessen the pain；less 是形容词或限定词，不能作谓语动词。
少于；不到
The trip took less than two hours.
这次旅行用了不到两个小时。
更少的时间
I have less time for hobbies these days.
这些天我花在爱好上的时间更少了。
更少的钱
We spent less money on food this month.
这个月我们在食物上花的钱更少了。
不那么重要
This detail is less important than the main idea.
这个细节没有主要内容那么重要。
可能性更小
Children who read often are less likely to struggle at school.
经常阅读的孩子在学校更不容易吃力。
less + -en（动词后缀）
less + -er（比较级后缀）
less + -en + -ing（由 lessen 加 -ing）
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Dictionary facts from DICTIONARY_API_DEV, ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.
越来越少
There is less and less rain in this area.
这个地区的雨水越来越少。