Question

6. No..
........ (fewer/less) than twenty workers were absent due to illness.
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Answer 1

Fewer than twenty workers were absent due to illness .

Answer 2

Answer:

No… fewer than twenty workers were absent due to illness.  

Explanation:

Comparison between fewer/less does take into consideration the countable vs the non-countable in this case. We see in this sentence, we consider the meaning attached to the sentence. Fewer: not as many and less means: not as much.  

So, in the context of the sentence fewer fit better as compared to less. According to usage rule, fewer is supposed to be used when mentioning 'countable things' while less is used for 'singular nouns'.  For example, you can have 'fewer ingredients, dollars, 'people or puppies' but less money, sugar, love, and honesty.