most

most (of)

We can use most as a determiner before uncountable or plural nouns. Note that we do not use the before most in this case.

• Most children like ice cream. (not The most children …)

Before another determiner (article, possessive, etc) or a pronoun, we use most of. Compare:

• Most fruit is imported.
  Most of our fruit is imported.
  Most of it is imported.
• Most people can sing a little.
  Most of these people can sing a little.
  Most of them can sing a little.

However, most of can be used directly before personal and geographical names.

• I’ve read most of Shakespeare.
• The Romans conquered most of England.

most without a noun

We can drop a noun after most if the meaning is clear.

• Some people had difficulty with the lecture, but most understood.

the most (= ‘more than any other/others’) with nouns

In comparisons (when most means ‘more than any other/others’) it is normally used with the before nouns.

• Susan found the most blackberries.

The is sometimes dropped in an informal style.

• Who earns (the) most money in your family?

the most as an adverb

(The) most can also be used as an adverb.The is often dropped in an informal style.

• They all talk a lot, but your little girl talks (the) most.
• The truth hurts most.

note

For most in superlatives (e.g. the most beautiful), Comparison.