Fingers’ Grammar Clinic

AUDIO DR FINGERS’GRAMMAR CLINIC

Dear Dr Fingers, I was wondering about the difference between the words “don’t care” and “don’t mind”. Please could you help me? I also have problems with “fewer than” and “less than”. Thank you very much. Pedro (by e-mail).

Dear Pedro, Thank you very much for your question. Of course, I would be delighted to try and help you. First let’s look at “don’t care”.

Today’s class: Don ’t care, don’t mind, fewer than & less than

Don’t Care

Basically, if you “don’t care” about something, that thing doesn’t matter to you, and it isn’t important for you. It is a negative way of commenting on something. Let’s see a few examples: A: “Do you mind if I go with you?” B: “I don’t care”, which means something like this, “you can stay or you can go - it isn’t important for me”.

Don’t Mind

Basically, “don’t mind” is more positive, and if you “don’t mind” about something, you have no objection to that thing in the positive sense. For example: A: “Do you mind when I come?” B: “No, I really don’t mind when you come”, which means, “you can come whenever you like”. And here’s another example: A: “Do you mind if I take your car?” B: No, I don’t mind if you take my car”, which means, “You can take my car”.

Fewer Than

Now let’s look at “fewer than”. We generally use “fewer than” when we are referring to people or things: “There were fewer than 40 children.” “Fewer than 1,000 teachers voted in the election.” It is NOT possible to use fewer than when we are referring to just numbers or figures. So, it is incorrect to say: “we travelled fewer than 3,000 kilometres.”

Less Than

We generally use “less than” with numbers, and when there are NO people mentioned. For example: “They are earning less than twenty pounds.” “I travelled less than 3,000 miles.” However, these days, many people do say things like this: “There are less than six people here.” In theory this is incorrect, and strict grammarians get angry when they hear “less than” used in reference to people. But who are we to disagree with the voice of the people?

Bye

Right, I hope that has answered your question. Just be careful to say “I don’t mind” when a friend asks you what you want to do, or where you want to go and you don’t have a strong preference. Here’s just a quick reminder of how to use these words: Don’t care = to say that something is not important for you and does not affect you. Don’t mind = to say that you have no objection to something. Fewer than = used with people Less than = used with numbers.

OK, that’s all for now. Thank you very much for your question, and now I feel the need for a rest. Goodbye, Fingers.