Use all, some, most, none and similar words directly before a noun when you mean things in general, and with of before the, my, this, those and similar words when you mean a particular group. Use of before it, us, you and them.
A all, some, most, no etc. + noun
These words can go straight before a noun:
all, some, any, most, much, many, (a) little, (a) few, no
Used this way, they talk about things in general. Do not put of between the word and a plain noun: say some people, not some of people.
- All birds have feathers.
- Some dogs are easier to train than others.
- Many people leave their Christmas shopping until the last minute.
- I visit my mum most Sundays.
- I'm shattered. I've got no energy left.
- Some people never read the instructions. (not Some of people)
B some of, most of, none of etc. + the, my, this ...
These words can be followed by of:
all, half, some, any, most, much, many, (a) little, (a) few, none
| Word + of | Followed by |
|---|---|
| some of, most of, none of etc. | the ..., this ..., that ..., these ..., those ..., my ..., your ... etc. |
So say some of the people, some of those people, most of my time, most of the time. Do not say some of people or most of time.
After all and half, the of is optional: all my cousins or all of my cousins, half this cake or half of this cake.
| In general (no of) | A particular group (with of) |
|---|---|
| All dogs need exercise. | All (of) these dogs need a walk. |
| Most problems can be fixed. | We fixed most of the problems we found. |
- Some of the people on my course are very odd.
- None of this furniture belongs to us.
- Have you watched any of these films?
- I had a migraine yesterday. I spent most of the day in a dark room.
- All my cousins live in Bradford. / All of my cousins live in Bradford.
- Half this cake is yours. / Half of this cake is yours.
C all of, some of, none of etc. + it, us, you, them
Before it, us, you and them, the of is required, even after all and half. Say all of us, not all us, and half of it, not half it.
any of you and all of you address more than two people, which is one way of making sure nobody can claim they were not asked.
- "Do you like this album?" "Some of it. Not all of it."
- "How many of your neighbours do you know?" "A few of them." / "None of them."
- Would any of you like a lift home?
- All of us missed the last bus. (not all us)
- I haven't finished the jigsaw. I've only done half of it. (not half it)
D some, most etc. without a noun
some, most, half and the rest can also stand alone, with the noun left out because it is already clear. Say half, not the half.
- Some flats have a balcony and some don't.
- A few of the cafés were still open, but most (of them) had shut.
- Half this pizza is mine and half (of it) is yours. (not the half)
Exercises
88.1 Put in of where it is needed. Choose no word if the sentence is already complete without it.
All ___ (of / no word) birds have feathers.
no word
All birds have feathers.
None ___ (of / no word) these coats are mine.
of
None of these coats are mine.
The roads were icy and some ___ (of / no word) schools were closed.
The roads were icy and some schools were closed.
Some ___ (of / no word) the songs on the radio these days are dreadful.
Some of the songs on the radio these days are dreadful.
Kate never eats out. She says all ___ (of / no word) restaurants are overpriced.
Kate never eats out. She says all restaurants are overpriced.
I think some ___ (of / no word) people spend far too long on their phones.
I think some people spend far too long on their phones.
Do you need any ___ (of / no word) these boxes, or can I take them to the tip?
Do you need any of these boxes, or can I take them to the tip?
Gareth has lived in Swansea most ___ (of / no word) his life.
Gareth has lived in Swansea most of his life.
My nan lived on the same street all ___ (of / no word) her life.
My nan lived on the same street all her life.
Most ___ (of / no word) mornings I walk the dog before breakfast.
Most mornings I walk the dog before breakfast.
I usually put a little ___ (of / no word) milk in my tea.
I usually put a little milk in my tea.
They inherited a fortune, but they've already spent most ___ (of / no word) the money.
They inherited a fortune, but they've already spent most of the money.
88.2 Complete the sentences with words from the box. Use of (some of, most of etc.) where it is needed.
adultsBritish citiesdogshis jokeshis neighboursmy free timemy wagesthe housesthe passengersthe populationthese filmstrains
I haven't seen many of these films.
I haven't seen many of these films.
All dogs need regular exercise.
All dogs need regular exercise.
I spend much reading.
I spend much of my free time reading.
Many are delayed when the leaves fall on the line.
Many trains are delayed when the leaves fall on the line.
It's an old village. Many were built in the 1700s.
It's an old village. Many of the houses were built in the 1700s.
Dan moved out overnight. He didn't tell any .
Dan moved out overnight. He didn't tell any of his neighbours.
Very few people live in the hills. Most live near the coast.
Very few people live in the hills. Most of the population live near the coast.
Not all can drive. My uncle never learned.
Not all adults can drive. My uncle never learned.
The coach went into a ditch, but none were badly hurt.
The coach went into a ditch, but none of the passengers were badly hurt.
Ken thinks he's hilarious. I don't laugh at many .
Ken thinks he's hilarious. I don't laugh at many of his jokes.
Tariq loves a city break. He's been to most .
Tariq loves a city break. He's been to most British cities.
Money's tight at the moment. Half goes on rent.
Money's tight at the moment. Half my wages goes on rent.
88.3 Complete the sentences with your own ideas.
The storm hit the town hard last night. All ___.
Example answer: The storm hit the town hard last night. All the trees in the park came down.
My brother and I fall out now and then, but we get on most of ___.
Example answer: My brother and I fall out now and then, but we get on most of the time.
I went to the match on my own. None of ___ wanted to come.
Example answer: I went to the match on my own. None of my friends wanted to come.
The pub quiz was very hard. I only got half ___ right.
Example answer: The pub quiz was very hard. I only got half the questions right.
Some of ___ you sent me from Spain were lovely.
Example answer: Some of the postcards you sent me from Spain were lovely.
"Have you eaten all ___ I bought?" "No, there are a few left in the tin."
Example answer: "Have you eaten all the biscuits I bought?" "No, there are a few left in the tin."
88.4 Complete the sentences with all of, some of or none of + it, them or us (all of it, some of them etc.).
These DVDs are all Karen's. None of them are mine.
These DVDs are all Karen's. None of them are mine.
"How much of the pizza did you eat?" ". Every last slice."
"How much of the pizza did you eat?" "All of it. Every last slice."
We all missed the bus because had checked the timetable.
We all missed the bus because none of us had checked the timetable.
Some of these tools are mine and are my dad's.
Some of these tools are mine and some of them are my dad's.
Lots of my cousins have lived abroad, but has ever lived in Asia.
Lots of my cousins have lived abroad, but none of them has ever lived in Asia.
Not all the runners were local. had come down from Scotland.
Not all the runners were local. Some of them had come down from Scotland.
I've read most of the report, but not .
I've read most of the report, but not all of it.
She showed us lots of holiday photos, but were hers. She'd found them online.
She showed us lots of holiday photos, but none of them were hers. She'd found them online.