We use most before a noun without a determiner. We use most of before a pronoun and a noun with a determiner (e.g. articles, demonstratives and possessives). Most of is also used before personal or geographical names.
Complete the following sentences.
1............... cheese is made from milk.
Wrong!
Use "Most" before an uncountable noun when you are speaking generally.
2............... England was under water.
Wrong!
Use "Most of" before a specific place name such as "England".
3............... people like movies.
Wrong!
Use "Most" before a plural noun when you are speaking generally.
4............... people in Switzerland can speak French.
Wrong!
Use "Most" before the general group noun phrase "people in Switzerland".
5She has eaten ............... that cake.
Wrong!
Use "most of" before a specific noun phrase with "that".
6She wasn't as intelligent as her sisters, but she was ............... beautiful.
Wrong!
Use "the most" to make the superlative form before "beautiful".
7............... my friends are non-smokers.
Wrong!
Use "Most of" before a specific noun phrase with a possessive adjective such as "my".
8............... us were impressed with the plan.
Wrong!
Use "Most of" before an object pronoun such as "us".
9Which country produces the ............... milk?
Wrong!
Use "most" before a noun to mean the largest amount.
10............... them were uneducated.
Wrong!
Use "Most of" before an object pronoun such as "them".
Answers
- Most cheese is made from milk.
- Most of England was under water.
- Most people like movies.
- Most people in Switzerland can speak French.
- She has eaten most of that cake.
- She wasn’t as intelligent as her sisters, but she was the most beautiful.
- Most of my friends are non-smokers.
- Most of us were impressed with the plan.
- Which country produces the most milk?
- Most of them were uneducated.