Few, less, much and many

The same difference between much and many separates less and fewer. And what you say has to do with whether the stuff you’re talking about visibly consists of little bits (like peas: many peas) or not (like water: much water). If you don’t have as many or much as you first figured, you say fewer for the bits (fewer peas) and less for the not-bits (less water).

Something that consists of little bits is said to be quantified. A quantum is a little bit of something. The plural of quantum is quanta. But that’s kind of silly because in English the plural of museum is museums. In Dutch people still say musea, which is proper Latin, proper Dutch but not proper English. Which proves once again that English is a strange language. English is also the biggest language ever in the history of talking. One is actually supposed to say ‘largest’ language, but I’m taking poetic license.