English Dictionary
Definition most in British English
most
adverb, determiner, pronoun
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.
These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
adverb, determiner, pronoun
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
Most is the superlative form of much and many and can be used in the following ways:
as an adverb (before an adjective or another adverb): a most interesting lecturethe question that is asked most often. (with a verb): Love is what these children need most. (after ‘the’): Angie looks the most like her father.
as a determiner (before a noun): Most shops will be closed over the Christmas holiday. (after ‘the’): Which athlete won the most medals?
as a pronoun: All the victims were male, and most were between the ages of 15 and 25. (after ‘the’): We all ate a lot, but Ashley ate the most. (followed by ‘of’): Most of my friends live in this area.
Don’t use most of before a noun when there is no article or possessive before the noun. Use the pattern most + noun:
✗ Most of banks want to have more and more customers.
✓ Most banks want to have more and more customers.
✗ Most of information on the Internet is written in English.
✓ Most information on the Internet is written in English.
Use the pattern most of before a noun when the noun comes after an article or possessive:
Most of the audience were women.
The engineers carry out most of their work on Sundays when traffic is light.
Don’t use the definite article the before most when there is a noun after most:
✗ In Singapore, the most people speak English fluently.
✓ In Singapore, most people speak English fluently.
✗ Banning smoking is supported by the most of non-smokers.
✓ Banning smoking is supported by most non-smokers.
used for saying that someone or something has more of a particular quality than any other person or thing
The English Patient was one of the most successful films ever made.
Who do you think is most likely to win the next presidential election?
It's a competition to see who could drink the most beer in the shortest time.
To get the most benefit from your training programme, read all the documentation carefully.
It was Auntie Margaret who complained the most.
used for emphasizing a particular quality
The landscapes are most beautifully painted in oils.
