QUANTIFIERS: ALL-MOST-NO
We use "all" with plural count nouns and uncount nouns. We use "all" to
talk about every person or thing in the world, or in the group you are talking
about.
We use "most" with plural count nouns and uncount nouns. We use "most"
to talk about nearly all of a number of people or things, or nearly all of a
quantity of something.
We use "no" with singular and plural count nouns and uncount nouns. We
use "no" to say that something does not exist or is not present.
1. We use "all" with plural count nouns and uncount nouns
to talk about every person or thing in the world or in the group that you are
talking about.
All children should complete the primary course.
All important decisions were taken by the government.
He soon lost all hope of becoming a rock star.
All luggage will be searched.
2. We use "most" with plural count nouns and uncount nouns
to talk about nearly all of a number of people or things or nearly all of a
quantity of something.
The method was suitable for most purposes.
Most good drivers stop at zebra crossings.
Most milk is still delivered to people's houses.
He ignored most advice, and did what he thought best.
3. We use "no" with singular count nouns, plural count
nouns, and uncount nouns to say that something does not exist or is not
present.
There was no chair for me to sit on.
They had no immediate plans to change house.
No money was available for the operation.
Note that if there is another word in the clause that makes it negative, you
use "any", not "no".
It hasn't made any difference.
He will never do any work for me again.
4. "All" and "most" are also pronouns, so we can say "all
of" and "most of". "No" is not a pronoun so we must say "none of".
He spent all of the money on a new car.
Most of my friends live in London.
None of those farmers had ever driven a tractor.
Note that we use "all of", "most of", and "none of" with an object
pronoun.
All of us were sleeping.
I had seen most of them before.
None of them came to the party.
Note that if the clause is already negative, we use "any of", not "none
of".
I hadn't eaten any of the biscuits.
When "none of" is followed by a plural noun or pronoun, the verb is usually
plural, but can be singular.
None of us are the same.
None of them has lasted very long.
5. We can use "all the" with a plural count noun or an
uncount noun. There is no difference in meaning between "all the" and "all of
the".
All the girls think it's great.
All the best jokes came at the end of the programme.
Thank you for all the help you gave me.
WARNING: We cannot say "most the" or "none the". We must
say "most of the" or "none of the".
6. We can use "all" after a noun or pronoun to emphasize
that the noun or pronoun refers to everyone or everything that has been
mentioned or is involved. Note that we can use "all" to emphasize the subject
or the object.
The band all live together in the same house.
I enjoyed it all.
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