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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Definite article before "most", "several", "some" and "few"

Hi. Please help. Could we put definite article "the" before the words "most," "several," "some" and "few" in sentences? Is specificity of the object or objects mentioned required for us to put the definite article before the forementioned words like "most"? And if that is so, does that mean we do not put the definite article "the" before those words when used in sentences that mean to say something generally? I hope I wrote my questions correctly to reflect what I wanted to say, but I am not sure. As to no. 4, I think putting the definite article "the" before "some" looks incorrect, but I can't explain why. Anyway, your help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

eg,
1. (The?) Most of them were literate.
2. The most of them who were there were literate.
3. This applies to (the?) most of them.
4. The most/several/some/few people who were here yesterday were friendly.
  

Top answer

It can happen with several and few, but not with most and some . Among your sentences, only these are possible: 4. The several/few people who were here yesterday were friendly.

  • It can happen with several and few, but not with most and some .
  • Among your sentences, only these are possible: 4.
  • The several/few people who were here yesterday were friendly.
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3 Answers
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It can happen with several and few, but not with most and some. Among your sentences, only these are possible:

4. The several/few people who were here yesterday were friendly.
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The most literate people in the room were ........
The most beautiful girl ......
The most friendly group ......

It depends on the context of your sentence.

I'm sorry, but I don't think 'The several people .......'

Paul
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It is a common enough stylistic technique, Chief. COCA lists over 1000 instances for each of these word groups:

Besides the several murder mysteries in which Mother and I got ourselves involved
It remains to be seen what will become of the several hundred uninstalled pieces of New York's architectural patrimony

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