MOST


Meaning of MOST in English

I

pronoun

BAD : Where I come from, the most teachers have to teach at two schools in order to earn enough.

GOOD : Where I come from, most teachers have to teach at two schools in order to earn enough.

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When you mean 'nearly all', use most (NOT the most ): 'Most universities provide a wide range of courses.'

Use the most in comparisons: 'Which city has the most tourists?' 'Rome and Florence are indeed beautiful, but Venice is by far the most romantic.'

II

adverb

BAD : Both girls are clever but Edna is the most intelligent.

GOOD : Both girls are clever but Edna is (the) more intelligent.

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Use ( the ) most when comparing one person or thing with all others: 'This is the most ridiculous excuse I've ever heard.'

When comparing just two people or things, use (the) more: 'Which is (the) more expensive - an ALR or an IBM?'

Note that in everyday conversation some people use (the) most instead of (the) more, but careful users consider this to be incorrect.

Longman Common Errors English vocabulary.      Английский словарь распространенных ошибок Longman.