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Most, the most, mostly

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.
warning

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.

Compare

Most desserts are sweet.Desserts in general
The food at the party was delicious. He’d made most of the desserts himself.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.
warning

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:

  • [from a weather forecast]
  • 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:

  • [talking about school lunches]
  • Some children brought a packed lunch but most had a cooked meal in the canteen. (most children)
See also
  • Most
  • Least, the least, at least
  • Adjectives: comparative and superlative

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’re using the most advanced technology in the world. (+ adjective)
  • [the Lake District is an area in Britain]
  • 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.
See also
  • Superlative forms
  • Least, the least, at least

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 like most?We 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.