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Most
We use the quantifier most to talk about quantities, amounts and degree. We can use it with a noun (as a determiner) or without a noun (as a pronoun). We can also use it with adjectives and adverbs to form the superlative.
Most with a noun
We use most with nouns to mean ‘the majority of’:
She plays tennis most mornings.
Most tap water is drinkable.
We don’t use the most with this meaning:
The sun shines over 800 hours during June, July and August and on most days temperatures rise above 25 degrees.
Not …
and on the most days…
When we are talking about the majority of something in general, we use most + noun. When we are talking about the majority of a specific set of something, we use most of the + noun.
|
Desserts in general |
|
A specific set of desserts (at the party) |
When we use most before articles (a an, the), demonstratives (this that), possessives (my your) or pronouns (him them), we need of:
Most of the information was useful. Some of it wasn’t relevant.
Not
Most the information…
They sold most of their apartments quite quickly.
When there is no article, demonstrative or possessive pronoun, we don’t usually use of:
There hasn’t been much rain. Most rivers are below their normal levels.
Not
Most of rivers are below their normal levels.
We use most of before geographical names:
Most of England and Wales should be dry throughout the day.
Most without a noun
We can leave out the noun with most when the noun is obvious:
Some children brought a packed lunch but most had a cooked meal in the canteen. (most children)
The most
The most is the superlative form of many much. We use the most with different classes of words.
The most with adjectives and adverbs
We use the most to make the superlative forms of longer adjectives and the majority of adverbs:
They rsquo;re using the most advanced technology in the world. (+ adjective)
Scafell Pike is the most easily identifiable peak in the Lake District. (+ adverb)
The most with a noun
We use the most with a noun to mean ‘more/less than all of the others’:
Ian earns the most money in our family.
We can leave out the noun when it is obvious:
He didn’t tell the best jokes but he told the most. (the most jokes)
The most with a verb
We use the most with a verb as an adverb:
They all cried, but Claire cried the most.
Mostly
Mostly is an adverb that means ‘mainly’:
I am mostly interested in the history of the house. (I am interested in other things about the house but my main interest is its history.)
We don’t use mostly instead of most or the most.
Compare
What I liked most were the beautiful beaches.
Not
What I liked mostly were the beautiful beaches.Which beaches did you likemost?
We nbsp;mostly stayed on the beach.
I liked the beautiful beaches more than anything else.
Which beaches were the ones that you liked more than any others?
We stayed on the beach for the majority of the time.