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Difficulty: Very hardAdjectives, Adverbs, and Modifiers

Complete the sentence below by filling in each blank with the grammatically correct modifier of quantity.

Answer:The presiding officer observed that 【fewer】 candidates registered for the professional examination this session, resulting in 【less】 administrative friction during the accreditation process.

Answer

The first blank requires 'fewer' to modify the countable noun 'candidates', and the second blank requires 'less' to modify the uncountable noun 'friction'.
The modifier 'fewer' is correctly used before plural countable nouns ('candidates'), while 'less' is correctly used before uncountable abstract nouns ('friction').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the head noun modified by the first blank
The noun 'candidates' is a plural countable noun.
Countable plural nouns require the quantitative modifier 'fewer' rather than 'less'.
2
Analyze the head noun modified by the second blank
The noun 'friction' is an mass/uncountable noun.
Uncountable nouns require the quantitative modifier 'less' rather than 'fewer'.
3
Combine the appropriate modifiers into their respective blanks
The sentence correctly reads: 'The presiding officer observed that fewer candidates registered... resulting in less administrative friction...'
This maintains standard grammatical agreement between modifiers and noun types.

Key Concept

Modifiers of Quantity: Countable vs. Uncountable Noun Modifiers
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Topics

Adjectives, Adverbs, and Modifiers

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