[Grammar] Can we use 'less' to modify adverbs?

[Heidi]

Dear friends,

Would you please tell me whether we can use less to modify adverbs? For example, do we say 'he listens to the teacher less attentively than I do'? or 'he does his homework less carefully than he used to'?

 

[5jj]

Would you please tell me whether we can use less to modify adverbs? For example, do we say 'he listens to the teacher less attentively than I do'? or 'he does his homework less carefully than he used to'?

We can, but I feel that we tend to use a negative expression:

'he doesn't listen to the teacher as attentively as I do'
'he doesn't do his homework as carefully as he used to'

 

[Heidi]

Thank you, fivejedjon. Your reply is very helpful.