less，lesser

這兩個詞都是little的比較級，都可指“較少”或“較小”。less偏重于“not so much”的意思，而lesser偏重于“not so great或smaller、minor、lower”的意思。它們都可用于數量、重量、程度、重要性、價值等方面。它們最大的區別在于用法及跟其他詞語搭配上的不同，二者又不能互掉使用。請比較下面各例：

(一)less所修飾的名詞是不可數的，且沒有冠詞在前，如：

I received less pay than he.

我收的薪金比他少。

I was given the lesser sum of money.

我得到較少的一份金錢。

I want less sugar for my coffee.

我的咖啡要加少些糖。

I prefer a lesser amount of meat.

我選擇較少量的肉食。

(二)less可帶than，并指二者或多于二者的比較;lesser不用than，而用of，并只限于二者的比較。

These days，I eat less rice than I used to.

近來我比以前少吃飯。

Rice and wheat are two staple foods in China.In the north，rice is the lesser of the two.

米和小麥是中國的兩種主要食糧。在北方，米較小麥為次要。

(三)涉及程度、價值、重要性等方面時，一般用lesser(指 smaller，not so great，minor，lower)：

Wealth is of less importance than health.(較不重要)

Between health and wealth，the former is of lesser importance.(較次要)

I have less difficulty with my work now.(較少困難)

In times of political crisis，juvenile delinquency is the lesser difficulty facing the government.(較次要的困難)

The accused pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Otherwise，he would have to face murder charges.(較輕的罪狀)

The lesser poets are not respected like the great ones.(名氣稍遜的詩人)

Compared with fossil fuels，nuclear energy is the lesser evil(the lesser of two evils).(較輕微的壞事)

Do you know where Lesser Asia(Asia Minor)is?(小亞細亞)

Tonight，the lesser light(the moon)appears in full splendour.