Standard English ConventionsHardLess versus fewer with an uncountable noun
Standard English Conventions practice question
The new engine uses ____ fuel than the old one did.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. lessCorrect
- B. fewer
- C. lesser
- D. few
Answer: A. less
'fuel' is not counted in units here, so the comparison uses 'less'. 'Fewer' is for countable things.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. fewer
- 'fewer' is for things counted one by one ('fewer litres'), not for 'fuel' as a quantity.
- C. lesser
- 'lesser' means 'smaller in importance' and isn't used with 'than' this way.
- D. few
- 'few fuel' is not standard, and 'few' makes no comparison.
More Standard English Conventions questions
- Hard
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? ____, the ancient… - Hard
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? By the time the t… - Hard
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The bridge was cl… - Hard
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The grant will fu… - Hard
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Students ____ com… - Hard
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Having studied th…
Not affiliated with the College Board. SAT is a trademark of the College Board.