# most of

CEFR A1 · Fixed phrase

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/most-of
Updated: 2026-07-26

## Definition

nearly all of a group of people or things. You use it to talk about the largest part of something.

For teachers: a quantifier phrase used to indicate the majority or the greater part of a specific set or mass. It requires a determiner (like 'the', 'my', or 'these') before the noun it modifies.

## Examples

- Most of the students passed the exam.
- I spent most of my weekend cleaning the house and doing laundry.
- Most of the evidence presented during the trial was circumstantial, leading to a lengthy deliberation by the jury.

## Pitfalls

- Not "Most of students like pizza." but "Most of the students like pizza." — when using 'most of', you must include a determiner like 'the', 'these', or 'my' before the noun.

## Usage notes

- always followed by a determiner or a pronoun when referring to a specific group.
- Teaching tip: contrast 'most' (general: 'most people') with 'most of' (specific: 'most of the people in this room') to help students master the definite article requirement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.