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Most, most of, the most

A2 · 40 exercises

The rule in short

How to talk about the biggest part of a group or an amount with most and most of, how this differs from the most, and why almost needs all or every after it.

PatternWhenExample
most + nounpeople or things in generalMost babies sleep a lot.
most of + the / my / this / these … + nouna group or an amount the listener knowsmost of the players in our team, most of this soup
most of + it / them / us / youbefore a pronounmost of them, most of it
most, alonethe noun is already clearWe tried six cafés. Most were full.
the most + long adjective + nounthe superlative: more than all the othersthe most comfortable chair
the most + nounthe biggest number or amountWho has the most free time?

Most or most of? Use most straight before a noun when you mean people or things in general: most people, most cheese. Use most of when a small word such as the, my, your, this or these comes next, or a pronoun such as it, them, us or you: most of the people at the party, most of my clothes, most of them. So most of people and most the students are both wrong. Before a pronoun, of is always needed: most of them, not most them.

Sometimes both are possible, with a small difference. Most students walk to school is about students in general. Most of the students walk to school is about a group the listener knows, for example the students at one school.

The verb. After most and most of, the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun that follows. A plural noun takes a plural verb; an uncountable noun or one single thing takes a singular verb: Most of the cake is gone. Most of the cakes are gone. Most of it is here. Most of them are here. If you are not sure whether a noun is uncountable, see countable and uncountable nouns.

The most. The most is a superlative. With a long adjective it means "more … than all the others": the most comfortable chair. The superlatives lesson shows when to use the most and when -est. Before a noun, the most is the superlative of much and many: much, many → more → the most. Tom has the most money means he has more money than anybody else in the group, not more than half of all the money. (In informal British English you also hear Who has most money? without the.) When most means "more than half", it takes no the: Most people…, not The most people…. See also comparatives for more.

Almost. Almost means "nearly, not quite". It does not name a quantity, so it does not stand before a noun alone. Put all, every, everybody, nothing or a number after it: almost all the students, almost everybody, almost every day, almost ten o'clock. Almost all means a little more than most.

Mostly is a different word again. It means "mainly" or "usually" and goes with a verb or describes a group: I mostly read at night. The guests were mostly students. It does not replace most before a noun: Most students walk, not Mostly students walk.

Examples

  • Most people like music.
  • Most cheese is made from cow's milk.
  • Most of the students in my class speak two languages.
  • Most of my friends are older than me.
  • Anna made a cake, and we ate most of it in one evening.
  • I invited twelve people, and most of them came.
  • Most of my money goes on food and clothes.
  • Tom bought the most expensive ticket for the show.
  • Anna has the most books in our family.
  • Almost everybody at the party knew Tom.

In the first seven sentences most means more than half. In the last three it means something else: more than all the others, or nearly.

Lesson: “Most, most of, the most” (A2), Krumeto · https://krumeto.com/grammar/most-most-of-the-most · written for Krumeto with the help of AI tools · Worksheet: krumeto.com

KrumetoMost, most of, the mostName ____________________

Exercises

A. Choose most or most of.

___ my shoes are black. → Most of

  1. ________ the rooms in this hotel have a balcony. (Most / Most of)
  2. ________ birds can fly. (Most / Most of)
  3. I know ________ them from school. (most / most of)
  4. Tom slept ________ the afternoon. (most / most of)
  5. ________ bread has some salt in it. (Most / Most of)

B. Choose most or the most.

  1. ________ people in my street have a car. (Most / The most)
  2. It is ________ beautiful place in our town. (most / the most)
  3. ________ of the trains were late this morning. (Most / The most)
  4. This is ________ difficult exercise in the book. (most / the most)
  5. Anna is ________ popular teacher at the school. (most / the most)

C. Choose most, most of or almost.

  1. ________ everybody in the office drinks coffee. (Most / Most of / Almost)
  2. We go swimming ________ every day in summer. (most / most of / almost)
  3. ________ my photos are on my phone. (Most / Most of / Almost)
  4. ________ children learn to walk before the age of two. (Most / Most of / Almost)
  5. The film was ________ three hours long. (most / most of / almost)

D. Write most or most of.

___ his friends play football. → Most of

  1. ________ us were tired after the long walk.
  2. ________ fruit has a lot of water in it.
  3. Tom does ________ his homework on the bus.
  4. I liked ________ the songs at the concert.
  5. ________ dogs like to play.
  6. Anna was ill, so she stayed in bed ________ the day.

E. Choose is or are.

  1. Most of my neighbours ________ very friendly. (is / are)
  2. Most of the furniture in this flat ________ new. (is / are)
  3. Most of them ________ at work now. (is / are)
  4. Anna bought some soup. Most of it ________ in the fridge now. (is / are)
  5. Most of the windows in our flat ________ small. (is / are)

F. Rewrite the sentences. Use it or them instead of the words in italics.

Most of the apples were green. → Most of them were green.

  1. Most of the students passed the test.
  2. Most of the soup was cold.
  3. Most of my cousins live abroad.
  4. Tom drank most of the milk.

G. Put the words in order. Use all the words.

  1. them / home / walked / of / most
  2. is / ready / of / the / most / food
  3. books / spent / money / most / Anna / on / her / of

H. Correct the mistakes. Change only what is wrong. Two of the sentences are already right: keep them as they are.

  1. Most of people at the meeting agreed with Anna.
  2. The most children in our street go to the same school.
  3. Most of the rice is still in the pot.
  4. Almost people like holidays.
  5. Most of them was at the party.
  6. Tom ate most the pizza.
  7. Tom drinks the most coffee in our office.
KrumetoMost, most of, the mostAnswer key

Answer key

A. Most + a noun alone: most people, most tea. Most of + the, my, this, these … or + a pronoun (it, them, us): most of the rooms, most of them.

  1. Most of
  2. Most
  3. most of
  4. most of
  5. Most

B. Most with no the means more than half: Most people have a phone. The most is the superlative, more than all the others: the most difficult question, the most money.

  1. Most
  2. the most
  3. Most
  4. the most
  5. the most

C. Almost means nearly. It goes before all, every, everybody or a number, not before a noun alone. Most goes before a noun alone; most of goes before the, my or a pronoun such as them.

  1. Almost
  2. almost
  3. Most of
  4. Most
  5. almost

D. Before a noun alone (people or things in general): most. Before the, my, his, this, these or a pronoun such as it, them, us: most of.

  1. most of
  2. most
  3. most of
  4. most of
  5. most
  6. most of

E. After most and most of, the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun that follows: most of the cake is, most of the cakes are, most of it is, most of them are.

  1. are
  2. is
  3. are
  4. is
  5. are

F. Most of it for one thing or an amount (the soup, the milk); most of them for more than one (the students). Keep of: most of them, not most them. The verb agrees with it or them.

  1. Most of them passed the test.
  2. Most of it was cold.
  3. Most of them live abroad.
  4. Tom drank most of it.

G. Most of + the, my, her … or a pronoun comes together as one group. The verb agrees with the noun or pronoun after of.

  1. Most of them walked home.
  2. Is most of the food ready? / Most of the food is ready.
  3. Anna spent most of her money on books. / On books, Anna spent most of her money.

H. Most + a noun alone for more than half (no the, no of); most of + the, my, it, them; the most for more than all the others; almost + all or everybody; the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun after of.

  1. Most people at the meeting agreed with Anna. / Most of the people at the meeting agreed with Anna.
  2. Most children in our street go to the same school. / Most of the children in our street go to the same school.
  3. Most of the rice is still in the pot. (✓) — This sentence is right: the rice is one amount, so is is correct.
  4. Almost all people like holidays. / Almost everybody likes holidays.
  5. Most of them were at the party.
  6. Tom ate most of the pizza.
  7. Tom drinks the most coffee in our office. (✓) — This sentence is right: the most coffee means more coffee than anybody else in the office.

Lesson: “Most, most of, the most” (A2), Krumeto · https://krumeto.com/grammar/most-most-of-the-most · written for Krumeto with the help of AI tools · Worksheet: krumeto.com

Most, most of, the most — worksheet | Krumeto