meaning What does the word “most” mean? English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

The ‘the’ article places importance on the object that the speaker or writer is speaking or writing about. ‘A’ does not do this, it just states that out of many … (you can fill in the blanks as you see fit). “But what I remembered most is moving a lot” is correct, with or without “the”. Although “the most” is the superlative, preferable. All models were 18 years of age or older at the time of depiction.

This uses history as a countable noun, to refer to a particular account. (Or rather in the plural, to refer to particular accounts). Here most identifies a certain number of this plural amount. But despite this ambiguity, it still refers to one particular thing. While we do not capitalise it, it’s more a proper noun in this sense than it is a common noun, for just as Jon identifies one person (in a given use), history in this use identifies one period, albeit the period that covers everything.

For example, “I have twelve co-workers, most of whom are French, and I have twelve wine bottles, most of which are empty.” I believe when we use the ‘the’ its more based on perspective than fact. This also depends on most volatile currency pairs where you place your words in a sentence and which words they are as well.

The Shirley letter was written and published in England, but both of the 1778 instances involve American correspondents—and indeed there appears to have been a vogue of this usage in the United States in the late 1700s. I am, with affection and esteem, dear Sir, your obedient servant, Geo. I believe if you say “most of”, people would generally understand that to mean at least a majority.

  • Your time implies your total time, where the most time implies more than the rest.
  • This uses history as a countable noun, to refer to a particular account.
  • For instanceMost people (e.g. a generalization) like chocolate.vs.Most of the people (e.g. ‘in this house’) like chocolate.
  • This uses history as a mass noun to cover all that is said about the past.

And especially since those most of who knew how to write well and whose letters we have extant were usually also educated in Latin (as was tradition for most education), it makes quite a lot of sense then that the letters would have been concluded in that “O so notably Roman” fashion. These numerous examples indicate that use of “Your obedient servant” as part of a polite sign-off to a letter goes back to at least 1640, and had become fairly common in some formal settings by the final decade of the seventeenth century. I checked the Hathi Trust database for of publications and found several instances of “Your obedient servant” at the close of letters published before 1742. But a sentence such as, “Most information is now obtained from the Internet.” would take the singular verb (since information is considered an uncountable noun). With the truest esteem and personal regard,I am, dear sir,Your obliged and obedient servant,Geo.

This usage is considered “dated” and is not recommended for modern contexts. I am providing this explanation for people who want to read (or possibly write) earlier “period” novels or shows. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. I spend 40% of my time in house A, 35% in house B, and 25% in house C.

Is “most” equivalent to “a majority of”?

Uncountable nouns usually take a singular verb. Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. This topic has been covered at Language Log (see here and here). In summary, people tend to use “most” to mean anything over 50%; some people feel it should only be used in sense C (a comfortable majority), but it is also used in sense A (a plurality). The context might make it clear which meaning is intended, or else it might simply be ambiguous.

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Sometimes, ‘most’ goes without article or sometimes it takes ‘a’ instead of ‘the’. ‘Most’ is the superlative form of “much and many” and used as adjective, adverb and noun. It looks then like ‘most’ is equivalent to ‘plurality’, and I think they are very close. Like ‘a couple’ (which literally means two), ‘most’ might be used aspirationally and is used often just to mean ‘a lot’.

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Interestingly, company can be an uncountable noun, but it then has a different definition than in your example. For example, “Most company leaves after two or three days,” is a perfectly acceptable sentence. In this case, company has the definition of a social gathering of guests or companions. The who/whom distinction is covered elsewhere (in the “most of…” context it’s whom, but in modern usage who is often used), but this question brings up the legitimate question of distinguishing between when to use who and when to use which. For this, simply consider whether the collection you’re describing consists of people or not.

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“Most” in this context means “very.” As in “a very wanted man.” It functions as a “superlative.” Would it change the meaning of the sentence if I interchange “most” with “the most”? I am a little confused about when to use these words.

Most people don’t live in China, but more people live in China than in any other nation. Why this form was adopted seems to be lost in the mists of time, but it could simply be a fashion. There may very well be other causes for the existence of this saying, whereof I remain presently and unfortunately unaware, but this seems to make the greatest sense to myself. It is only a theory in the end tho’, and I am personally not educated sufficiently in the historical happenings of the 17th and 18th century to pronounce any conclusive reasoning whether this or some other theory is true. I am, with respect,Your obliged and obedient Servant,Richard Grindall.

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I’d also say that using ‘Most of’ implies that there is a perceived population, a finite number of people being referred to. For instanceMost people (e.g. a generalization) like chocolate.vs.Most of the people (e.g. ‘in this house’) like chocolate. I think ‘Most of’ is gramatically correct if you are including “the”.

  • Uses water as a countable noun, in the plural (as can be done to differentiate water from different sources), and applies most to that plural number.
  • We can use it with a noun (as a determiner) or without a noun (as a pronoun).
  • You can not say “most my books” but you can say “most of my books”.
  • This special use of ‘superlative’ is called ‘absolute superlative’ or ‘superlative of eminence’.
  • The second refers to a particular identified set of what the noun phrase refers to “most of the butterflies I’ve seen were pretty”.

Faites attention au contexte

I depend upon you to be my friend and advocate, and I intend to waite on you Wednesday morning to know my fate, for i hope by that tyme you will have settled it with your brother Ministers, and not only till then but for ever, I am and shall be your obedient servant, Signed, Montagu. Sr. &ca.Your obedient servantThomas Cooke. All which is humbly submitted by your obedient servant—CHAS. I have no more to add, but I am your obedient servant at command. The intelligence which your Lordship has been pleased thus freely to begin I beseech you to continue, and if you will make it a step to render me of more use and consideration to you, I shall hold that a great ad to the honour and happiness of your obedient servant.

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I am with the utmost regard and esteem, reverend Sir, your most humble, and most obliged, obedient servant,A. The wording “Your obedient servant” was fairly common in both the United States and Great Britain by 1800. Generally we use “most…” or “most of the…”. The first refers to the majority of all that the noun phrase refers to “most butterflies are pretty”. The second refers to a particular identified set of what the noun phrase refers to “most of the butterflies I’ve seen were pretty”. Uses water as a countable noun, in the plural (as can be done to differentiate water from different sources), and applies most to that plural number.

These collection words are not technical. Both are pretty well represented, thus considered correct by various authors and their editors. Based on frequency, one should select the first, but I prefer the 2nd as it avoids the feeling of clipping. I know most vs. the most has been explained a lot, but my doubts pertain specifically to which one to use at the end of a sentence. Wherefore, as I have the Lord Chief Baron’s Leave, I beg you will insert the inclosed Letter and Case in your next Paper, and you will very much oblige,SIR,Your obedient Servant,JOSHUA WARD. I am commanded by you to show you the opinion and report of the country, But if I should write all, I should first request for a pardon, for mouths are now very loose.