Grammar Check: Incorrect Sentence Identification

This question requires identifying the grammatically INCORRECT sentence among the options provided.

Sentence Analysis

Evaluating each sentence:

• Option 1: Correct. Uses "less" acceptably to mean minus or after deducting charges.
• Option 2: Correct. "Less than" is used appropriately for comparing the uncountable noun 'expenditure'.
• Option 3: Correct. "Lesser sum" is a grammatically sound construction referring to a smaller amount.
• Option 4: Contains a grammatical error related to the use of 'less'.

Grammar Rule Focus: 'Less' vs 'Little'

The error in Option 4 involves the misuse of the word 'less'.

• Rule: Generally, use 'less' for uncountable quantities and 'fewer' for countable items.
• Context: In Option 4, 'expenditure' refers to the total amount spent, which is an uncountable noun.
• Error: The phrase 'very less' is considered non-standard and grammatically incorrect in formal English. It inappropriately intensifies the comparative adjective 'less'.
• Correction: For uncountable nouns like 'expenditure', the standard and correct form when intensifying is 'very little'. For example: "This country's expenditure on educational reforms is very little."
• While 'less' is the comparative form of 'little' and relates to amount, the construction 'very less' is avoided.

Option 4 is the grammatically INCORRECT sentence due to the non-standard usage of 'very less'.