less，lesser

这两个词都是little的比较级，都可指“较少”或“较小”。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。它们都可用于数量、重量、程度、重要性、价值等方面。它们最大的区别在于用法及跟其他词语搭配上的不同，二者又不能互掉使用。请比较下面各例：

(一)less所修饰的名词是不可数的，且没有冠词在前，如：

I received less pay than he.

我收的薪金比他少。

I was given the lesser sum of money.

我得到较少的一份金钱。

I want less sugar for my coffee.

我的咖啡要加少些糖。

I prefer a lesser amount of meat.

我选择较少量的肉食。

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

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

近来我比以前少吃饭。

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

米和小麦是中国的两种主要食粮。在北方，米较小麦为次要。

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

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

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

I have less difficulty with my work now.(较少困难)

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

The accused pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Otherwise，he would have to face murder charges.(较轻的罪状)

The lesser poets are not respected like the great ones.(名气稍逊的诗人)

Compared with fossil fuels，nuclear energy is the lesser evil(the lesser of two evils).(较轻微的坏事)

Do you know where Lesser Asia(Asia Minor)is?(小亚细亚)

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