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Most vs. Most of the

girl student    boy student
Using Expressions of Quantity

 

 

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

UNSPECIFIC - a large, indefinite group

SPECIFIC - includes a phrase defining the number to a specific few. (In spoken English, a defining phrase may not be included but is understood from contextual information.)

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 of the 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 of the 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)
 

 

 

Common Mistakes
ERROR FIX

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.
 

 

 

 

 

Number of

Several vs. Amount

 

 

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

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

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

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 were unregistered.  (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 - lightbulb  Pop-Q -10/18/2009
Also see:   Agreement-Quantity Phrases

 

 

 

 

Practice 2

Using Expressions of Quantity

 

 

 

Select an option and then read the feedback.
 

# SENTENCE & FEEDBACK OPTIONS
1. Most movies put me to sleep.

 
2.  Most of the movies made by Clint Eastwood appeal to older people.

3. A number of people in the audience started whistling.

 


4. The number of people in the audience is 250.


5.
 
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12.

Note the verb "is" agrees with the quantifier "number"   quantifier agreement
13.
 
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