English Grammar Story:
Comparing with "Less" and "Least"

How to Use "Less" and "Least"

We use less and least to compare things, but for amounts, not numbers.

LESS

We use less when we compare two things, and one has a smaller amount of something.

Examples:

• This soup has less salt than the other one.
• I have less time today than yesterday.
• He is less tired now.

LEAST

We use least when we talk about three or more things, and one has the smallest amount.

Examples:

• That movie was the least interesting.
• She has the least work in the team.
• He is the least hungry of all.

Note:

We use less/least with:

• Uncountable nouns (water, time, money, sugar, etc.)
• Some adjectives / adverbs (tired, careful, noisy, happy)

In Summary

• Less = smaller amount
• Least = the smallest amount

Humphrey watches crime films every night. To him, crime movies seem less boring and less predictable than his own office job.

His office job is the least exciting job ever. Humphrey dreams of becoming a thief because real thieves must have less ordinary lives.

The problem is that Humphrey is probably the least talented thief in the world. He's less careful, less sneaky, and certainly less confident than the criminals he watches in films.

But Humphrey believes he can learn by watching movies, which makes him feel less worried.

Tonight, Humphrey plans his first robbery – a jewelry store. It seems less dangerous than robbing a bank, and certainly less boring than doing his paperwork.

Humphrey carefully dresses in black clothes, hoping he looks less obvious. Actually, he's wearing the least comfortable black outfit ever – too tight and too itchy!

Humphrey arrives at the jewelry store and chooses the smallest window because it seems less protected.

He tries to climb into the window quietly, but he is less quiet than a cat. In fact, Humphrey is less quiet than an elephant. He falls loudly onto the floor.

He quickly gets up, feeling less and less confident. Suddenly, he hears someone else moving! Oh, no! Humphrey realizes, to his shock, he's not alone. There's another thief inside – one who looks less friendly and much less clumsy than Humphrey.

"Hey!" the other thief says. "Get out! I was here first!"

The other thief is tall and strong. He has many jewels in his bag and an angry face.

Humphrey feels less brave now. His legs shake. "I'm sorry," he says. "I didn't know someone was here."

"Well, now you know," the thief says. "I'm Viktor. I am the least friendly thief in this city. And you look like the least skilled thief in this city!"

Humphrey nods. Viktor is right. He has less experience than any of the thieves in the movies.

Then, they hear police cars. The police are coming!

"You were too noisy!" Viktor shouts. "We have less time to escape now. This is all because of you!"

Viktor runs at Humphrey with his fist raised. Humphrey moves to the side. Viktor is not careful. He falls down. His bag opens, and the jewels fall out.

At that moment, the police come through the door.

"Stop!" they shout.

Viktor is on the floor, not moving. Humphrey just stands there, confused.

"You caught him!" a police officer says, looking surprised. "We tried to catch Viktor for years! He robbed no less than 100 stores!"

"I... caught him?" Humphrey asks, feeling less scared than before.

"Yes! You're a hero!" the officer says with a big smile.

The next day, Humphrey is in the newspaper. It says: "Office Worker Catches Dangerous Thief!" Humphrey becomes the least likely hero ever.

His boss gives him a better job. His friends think he is much cooler now. The mayor gives him a medal!

Humphrey learns that real crime is less exciting than in movies. And sometimes, the least expected person can become the biggest hero.

He never tries to be a thief again. One noisy night is enough. Office life may be boring, but it’s less dangerous and much less itchy!

Humphrey watches crime films every night. To him, crime movies seem __________ boring and __________ predictable than his own office job.

His office job is the __________ exciting job ever. Humphrey dreams of becoming a thief because real thieves must have __________ ordinary lives.

The problem is that Humphrey is probably the __________ talented thief in the world. He's __________ careful, __________ sneaky, and certainly __________ confident than the criminals he watches in films.

But Humphrey believes he can learn by watching movies, which makes him feel __________ worried.

Tonight, Humphrey plans his first robbery – a jewelry store. It seems __________ dangerous than robbing a bank, and certainly __________ boring than doing his paperwork.

Humphrey carefully dresses in black clothes, hoping he looks __________ obvious. Actually, he's wearing the __________ comfortable black outfit ever – too tight and too itchy!

Humphrey arrives at the jewelry store and chooses the smallest window because it seems __________ protected.

He tries to climb into the window quietly, but he is __________ quiet than a cat. In fact, Humphrey is __________ quiet than an elephant. He falls loudly onto the floor.

He quickly gets up, feeling __________ and __________ confident. Suddenly, he hears someone else moving! Oh, no! Humphrey realizes, to his shock, he's not alone. There's another thief inside – one who looks __________ friendly and much __________ clumsy than Humphrey.

"Hey!" the other thief says. "Get out! I was here first!"

The other thief is tall and strong. He has many jewels in his bag and an angry face.

Humphrey feels __________ brave now. His legs shake. "I'm sorry," he says. "I didn't know someone was here."

"Well, now you know," the thief says. "I'm Viktor. I am the __________ friendly thief in this city. And you look like the __________ skilled thief in this city!"

Humphrey nods. Viktor is right. He has __________ experience than any of the thieves in the movies.

Then, they hear police cars. The police are coming!

"You were too noisy!" Viktor shouts. "We have __________ time to escape now. This is all because of you!"

Viktor runs at Humphrey with his fist raised. Humphrey moves to the side. Viktor is not careful. He falls down. His bag opens, and the jewels fall out.

At that moment, the police come through the door.

"Stop!" they shout.

Viktor is on the floor, not moving. Humphrey just stands there, confused.

"You caught him!" a police officer says, looking surprised. "We tried to catch Viktor for years! He robbed no __________ than 100 stores!"

"I... caught him?" Humphrey asks, feeling __________ scared than before.

"Yes! You're a hero!" the officer says with a big smile.

The next day, Humphrey is in the newspaper. It says: "Office Worker Catches Dangerous Thief!" Humphrey becomes the __________ likely hero ever.

His boss gives him a better job. His friends think he is much cooler now. The mayor gives him a medal!

Humphrey learns that real crime is __________ exciting than in movies. And sometimes, the __________ expected person can become the biggest hero.

He never tries to be a thief again. One noisy night is enough. Office life may be boring, but it’s __________ dangerous and much __________ itchy!