less

这两个词都是little的比较级。它们的区别是：

1.less通常表示体积大小或者分量轻重;而lesser是正式用语,与价值或者重要性有关。例如:

As far as I know, he was a lesser writer.据我所知,他是个次要作家。

2.lesser不可与than连用,且lesser在句中一般只能用作定语。

3.less可用作副词,而lesser则很少这样用。

这两个短语在写法上很相似,但表达的意思却不同。not less than是“不少于”,多半用来作数量的比较。例如:

There were not less than 50 members present at the meeting.出席会议的至少有50人。

not less...than表示“不比…差”,多半用作程度的比较。例如:

This tool-machine is not less useful than that one.这台机床使用起来不比那台差。

There were no less than ten thousand people here.

今天,这里不少于10,000人。

(只有这么多)

There were not less than ten thousand people here.

今天这里有10,000出头的人。

(至少有这么多)