Some or Some of? / Most or Most of? (Quantifiers – English Grammar)

Quantifiers Used with Sentence Subjects

Here is a picture of George Clooney, a famous American actor. Which sentence(s) below would correctly describe his hair?

Some of his hair is grey? Or some?

  1. Some hair is grey.
  2. Some of his hair is grey.

The correct answer is . Why? To explain, let's look at each sentence individually.

"Some hair is grey." 

The word some is called a quantifier because it tells you the quantity (how much) of something. Other quantifiers include all, most, many, few, little, and none.

When we talk about something in general, we use the structure quantifier + noun. For example:

  • Most people like strawberries.
  • Many cities do not have public transportation.
  • Some animals can be good pets.

As you can see, these sentences are general. They aren't talking about a specific group of people, cities, or animals.

However, the above sentence about George Clooney isn't general. We are talking specifically about the hair on George Clooney's head.  When you talk about a specific group, you use of, like in the below sentence:

"Some of his hair is grey."

Anytime you talk about a specific group, you need to use of after the quantifier. Also, after 'of,' there needs to be a determiner (the/his/her/my, etc). Let's compare some examples that talk about general and specific groups.

  • General: Most people like strawberries.
  • SpecificMost of the people I know like strawberries.  (determiner = the (also called an article))
  • General: Many clothes are made in Asia.
  • Specific: Many of my clothes are blue. (determiner = my (also called a possessive adjective))
  • General: Some webpages are not suitable for children.
  • Specific: Some of this website's pages are for students. (determiner = this)

Basic Rules

  • If you are speaking generally, then do not use "of" or a determiner (the/my/his/her, etc). Some people have grey hair.
  • If you are speaking about a specific group, then use 'of' and a determiner. Some of my teachers have grey hair.

Do you think you understand? Try this quiz!

Quantifiers with Prepositions Quiz

Select the best option for the sentence.

  1.  don't recycle.
  2.  his teeth are yellow.
  3.  birds can fly.
  4.  classmates listen to hip-hop music.
  5.  people I met on vacation were friendly.
  6.  money the organization collected was given to the people who needed it, unfortunately.
  7.  restaurants serve peanut butter sandwiches.
Show Answers
  1. Some (general statement)
  2. Many of (specific statement about him)
  3. Most (general statement)
  4. Most of my (specific group of people needs a determiner ('my')
  5. All of the (specific group of people needs a determiner ('the')
  6. Little of the (specific money needs a determine ('the')
  7. Few (general statement)

Found a mistake? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

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21 comments on “Some or Some of? / Most or Most of? (Quantifiers – English Grammar)

  1. Mahoud Shalabi , lecturer . tripoliano@nemoglobal.com (Posted on 8-22-2016 at 20:05) Reply

    Splendid work, may God bless you whoever you are

    good deeds always last.

    1. YYue (Posted on 1-22-2022 at 20:21) Reply

      wowowowowwoowoowowowowow,it is so coooool and gooood

  2. John M. (Posted on 12-22-2016 at 20:51) Reply

    Excellent and very clear explanation.

  3. nazi from iran (Posted on 12-27-2016 at 06:15) Reply

    Tnx alot you are really outstanding

  4. Ana (Posted on 2-2-2017 at 14:12) Reply

    All grammar books should be as clear as your explanations.
    Thank you.

  5. NauSabi (Posted on 7-8-2017 at 23:44) Reply

    Is it correct to use some of united states people are bad or most of united nations are bad..

    1. mb Post author (Posted on 7-9-2017 at 00:34) Reply

      “Some of _the_ United States’ people are..” is okay and “Most of _the_ United Nations are” is also okay.

  6. Any elvia (Posted on 10-5-2017 at 03:25) Reply

    nice informations Ser ! will u give some of the quiz more/add quiz about quantifiers.. by the way, what is ‘more’ in quantifiers ?

    1. mb Post author (Posted on 10-5-2017 at 13:32) Reply

      Hello. ‘More’ is a quantifier. It is used before a noun. ‘I don’t have more questions’. It is often used for comparisons. ‘He has more time than I do’. Etc.

  7. Selsh (Posted on 10-25-2017 at 06:16) Reply

    Thanks a lot. A simple and clear explanation

  8. majjid (Posted on 7-23-2018 at 04:48) Reply

    which one is correct?

    This gives a straightforward method for selecting some of the control design parameters

    or
    This gives a straightforward method for selecting some control design parameters

    1. mb Post author (Posted on 7-23-2018 at 14:28) Reply

      Both make sense. You would use #1 when the reader knows each of the control design parameters (i.e. they are specific parameters that have been introduced). You would use #2 if you are referring to control design parameters in general.

  9. Hung (Posted on 5-12-2019 at 12:21) Reply

    Thanks! It is really useful.

  10. Yobo (Posted on 6-12-2019 at 05:06) Reply

    Is it okay to say ” some of the input work is used”

    1. MB (Posted on 6-12-2019 at 13:58) Reply

      The construction ‘some of the [noun] is used’ makes sense. I’m not sure what ‘input work’ is, however.

  11. Fiera (Posted on 8-8-2019 at 03:42) Reply

    If I’m talking about a machine, which was disassembled and I start describing what was done to its parts/components (the components are never named, because they are many and it does not matter) should I say:

    1. and some of the components/parts were cleaned.
    2. and some components/parts were cleaned.

    To me, 1. sounds better. But I am not a native speaker and I might be making a mistake.

    1. mb Post author (Posted on 8-8-2019 at 17:45) Reply

      Either works, but I prefer #1 as well.

  12. Israa (Posted on 12-13-2020 at 22:38) Reply

    It really helped me to understand it well.
    Thank you so much

  13. Mohammad (Posted on 12-31-2021 at 02:55) Reply

    very good
    thanks a lot

  14. TT copy (Posted on 1-15-2023 at 04:36) Reply

    I’m not sure if you have any questions

    Good morning I am fine with me your pic of the country and the government of India would be great to hear from you are welcome

  15. Mpoyi jaycee (Posted on 5-3-2023 at 08:30) Reply

    how good is it my buddy,be my guest ’cause it helped me so much

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