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Most / Most of the

A quantity of an unspecific or specific group

students

 

 

 

Most  vs. Most of the
MOST STUDENTS MOST OF THE STUDENTS

Use most to refer to a quantity of an unspecific group.  We use most when we are speaking in general and do not have a specific group of people or things in mind.

Use most of the X to refer to a quantity of a specific group.  Note the expression includes a phrase defining the number to a specific group.

Most students ask questions.

Most of the students in my English class ask questions.
(most - specific to those who are in my English class)

 

All students want  A's.

All of the students in my class want  A's.
(all - specific to those who are in my class)

 

Many students want  less homework.

Many of the students in my school want less homework.
(many - specific to those who are in my school)

 

A few students had to stay for a review session. (some)

A few of the students who have low grades had to stay  for a review session.
  (a few - specific to those who have low grades)

 

Few students had to stay for a review session. (not many)

Few of the students who have low grades had to stay  for a review session.
(few - specific to those who have low grades)

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

Several vs. Amount

students studying

 

 

 

A number of  vs. The number of
A NUMBER OF THE NUMBER OF

A number of means several. When a verb follows this phrase, it is plural.

 The number of states a quantity, an exact or inexact amount. When a verb follows this phrase, it is singular: is (equals, has risen, has decreased, has increased)

A number of students study engineering.  (unspecific group)

 

The number of students is forty.   (an unspecific group, an exact quantity – forty.)  

A number of the students in my class are honor students.  (specific)

The number of the students in my class is thirty / low / high.
  (a specific group, an exact – thirty – or an  inexact quantity – low, high)  

 

A number of the students there received scholarships.    (specific)

The number of the students in my class is unexpected.
  (a specific group, an inexact quantity)  

 

We couldn't count a number of students because they were unregistered.    (unspecific group, unknown quantity)

We couldn't count the number of students in my class because many were unregistered.    (a specific group, an inexact quantity – many.)

  

Solution - lightbulbPop-Q  " Quantity"
Also see:   Quantity Phrases (agreement) 

 

 

 

 

Common Mistakes

Errors and Solutions

 

 

 

ERROR SOLUTION

*Most of students have a good time Saturday night.
(A mixed expression: use "most" or "most of the".)  

Most students have a good time on Saturday night.
Most of the students in college have a good time on Saturday night.

*Some of people don't care what they do in public.
(A mixed expression: use "some" or "some of the".) 

Some people don't care what they do in public.
Some of the people I know don't care what they do in public.
 

We are finding that the number of students are buying their textbooks online.

 

We are finding that a number of students are buying their textbooks online.

*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.

 

 

 

 

Practice 1

Movies on Demand

watching tv

 

 

 

  1. Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence. 
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.

on demand – whenever a person wants  (mail order, download, or streaming)

 

1.
Most movies are available in DVD or Blu-Ray format.






2.
 Most of the movies that we see are on our home theater system.  (theatre Br-Eng).





3.
A number of people who prefer to watch movies at home use mail-order movies or download them online.






4.
The number of movies that are available on Blu-Ray is increasing every month.






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Note the verb "is" agrees with the quantifier "number"   quantifier agreement

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