Making an amount smaller

The idea

Use reduce with an amount, or without an object when an amount falls. Use by for the size of the decrease.

Examples

• We reduced the price by ten percent.
• The town reduced water use.
• The noise reduced during the night.
• This lid reduces heat loss.
• They reduced the meeting time by half.
• Can we reduce the amount of salt?

Watch out

Do not confuse by with to: by ten is the decrease, while to ten is the final amount.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct form. The shop cut its costs from $100 to $80, reducing them ___ 20 percent. (by / to)

   Show answer or example answer

   by

   by introduces the size of the fall.

2. Choose the correct form. The amount ___ last month. (reduced / reduce)

   Show answer or example answer

   reduced

   reduced places the fall last month.

3. Choose the correct form. We need to ___ our waste. (reduce / remind)

   Show answer or example answer

   reduce

   reduce means make the waste smaller.

Use it today

Describe something you reduced and say how much it fell.