Choose the most appropriate combination of words to complete the given sentence:
The new printer in our office cost ______ the price of the old one, but it uses ______ ink, so the manager says it will save money within a year.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → double / less
Complete sentence: The new printer in our office cost double the price of the old one, but it uses less ink, so the manager says it will save money within a year. “The price” comes right after the first blank, and “ink” cannot be counted.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) double of / less | we do not put “of” between “double” and “the”; the right form is “double the price” | – |
| (2) twice / fewer | fewer: with countable plural nouns, not with an uncountable noun like “ink” | Fewer people take the ferry now that the bridge is open. |
| (3) double / less (answer) | double: two times as much, straight before “the” and the noun, with no “of”; less: a smaller amount, with uncountable nouns | The new fan cost double the price of the old one, but it uses less power. |
| (4) double / a few | a few: some, a small number, with countable plural nouns | The clerk made a few copies of the form. |