can someone help with this please

[DelGirl]

trying to help a friend with her translation but not sure on the use of 'fewer' does it seem correct? tia

''It was not, however, to prolong any pleasurable dreams, which he was having feWer and feWer of these days''

I'd use 'less and less' myself. 'fewer' is OK though.

yes I wondered that. What it is and this is copied from her explanation

'I have to compare the same novel in italian and english, two versions already translated by important author

but
the italian novel is not written in italian standard , the italian writer uses a lot of dialectal-sicilain words...
so for italian speaker it sound a little strange
i would like to know if it's strange also in english...

Here you go.

Use 'fewer' for things that can be counted; use 'less' otherwise.

'Fewer' is right in the sentence in the OP.

thank you

Having said that, if I was translating into French, I would have to adapt the sentence to say something like 'which he was having less and less often these days'. Might be the same in Italian....?

Not seen you around for ages OP!

Less would be incorrect in this context, as ably explained above. This is one that really gets up my nose, actually.

i'm more of a lurker and occasional poster these days stealth. Sorry to get up your nose simbo!

were you mts before stealth?

just seen you joined in 2006 so prob not.

I didn't mean you Delgirl, just that particular usage of "less" where it should be "fewer". It's really hard to teach children correct English when they see incorrect usage in print all around them.

no, I know Simbo