Page 363 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

3 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.
4 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.
Sllsan found the most blackberries.
The is sometimes dropped in an informal style. Who earns (the) most money in your family?
5 (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 YOllr little girl talks (the) most. The truth hurts most.
6 superlative adjectives and adverbs
(The) most is used to make the superlative forms of longer adjectives and most adverbs (see 137-138).
I wasn't as clever as the others, bllt I was the most beautiful. I work most efficiently in the early morning.
7 most meaning 'very'
Most can be used before adjectives to mean 'very' in evaluating expressions, especially in a formal style.
That is most kind ofyou. Thank you for a most interesting afternoon. The experience was most distressing.
8 mostly
Mostly means 'in most (but not all) cases'. Compare: Your little girl talks the most. (NOT ••• talks ffl8Stly.)
She mostly talks about her friends.
357 much and many
1 the difference
Much is used with singular (uncountable) nouns; many is used with plurals. I hallen't got much time. I don't know many ofyour friends.
2 much/many + noun: without of
We do not generally use ofafter much/many when there is no other determiner (e.g. anicle or possessive).
She didn't eat much breakfast. (NOT ••• rm:teh ttfhrealcfrl3t.)
There aren't many large glasses left. (NOT ••• many 8/large glttsses /t:ft.) However, much ofis used directly before personal and geographical names.
I've seen too much ofHoward recently. Not much ofDenmark is hilly.
much and many 357
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