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fewer and less

by akhpad » Tue Apr 06, 2010 11:42 pm
I have 2 correct sentences.

There are fewer than 1000 species of frog left in the Amazon river basin.
The number of species of frog left in the Amazon river basin is less than 1000.

I confused because when I found fewer and less in these two sentences.

Why "less" correct in 2nd sentence? - Because nothing after 1000

Can someone explain it?
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by thephoenix » Wed Apr 07, 2010 12:17 am
fewer always modifies plural noun and less always modifies a singular noun
in the present case fewer is modifying species (plural)and noun for less is the number(singular)....
further species is countable noun we can say 1 species , 100 species , but number is non countable we cant say 1 no. of species , two no's of species
hth
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