The concordance syntax is very important for the sentence, because through it the words adapt to each other, making the text reach its objective: the production of meaning.
when the subject (nominal group core) agrees in number (singular and plural) and person (I you they we you they) with the verb (verbal predicate core), it is about the verbal agreement. Whether the fit occurs between the noun and its determinants (adjective, adjective pronoun, numeral and article), a agreement is nominal.
The general rule of agreement is important to guide the speakers of the language, however, it cannot be seen as unique, since there are rules that are specific, and must be analyzed according to each context (situation).
A word that has generated many doubts about its correct use is any less. When applying the nominal agreement rule, using this word, some are mistaken, because they want to apply the general rule (noun agrees with its determinants in number and gender), but any less it's an invariant word
, that is, that it does not bend, that it does not change, therefore, the general rule cannot be applied. See the examples:Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
- The wholemeal biscuit has fewer calories.
- What a pity! Fewer people came than expected.
- It is best to drink less soda and more juice.
- Are there fewer girls or fewer boys in the room?
- There are fewer people today than yesterday.
In all of the above statements, the word less appeared, at times, inflected, at others, not. According to normative grammar (manual that contains the rules of the Portuguese language), are all the examples correct? Do not. And the explanation is very simple, any less it must not agree with any word, as it must not undergo variation. As a result, menas is a “ghost word”, therefore, its use should be eliminated, because according to the standard rule, its use is inappropriate.
Returning to the examples, the word less was correctly used in two statements, they are: "It is best to drink less soda and more juice” and “There are fewer people today than yesterday.” So, to make sure you don't get it wrong, remember that the word minus is invariable, so minas doesn't exist. Therefore, be careful not to make a mistake.
By Mayra Pavan
Graduated in Letters
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
PAVAN, Mayra Gabriella de Rezende. "Are there less or less people?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/ha-menas-ou-menos-pessoas.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.