1. most + noun
We can use most before a noun phrase as a determiner. We do not generally use of when there is no other deterniner (e.g. article or possessive).
Most cheese is made from cow's milk. (NOT Most of cheese...)
Most Swiss people undersatnd French. (NOT Most of Swiss people....)
However, most of can be used without a following determiner in a few cases --- for instance, before personal and geographical names.
The Romans conquered most of England.
the is not used when there is no comparison, and most simply means "the majority of".
Most children like ice-cream. (NOT The most children....)
2. most of + deterniner/pronoun
Before determiners (e.g. a, the, my, this) and pronouns, we use most of.
He's eaten two pizzas and most of a cold chicken.
You've got most of the bed, as usual.
Most of the people here know each other.
Most of my friends live abroad. (NOT Most my friends...)
She's eaten most of that cake.
Most of us thought he was wrong.
3. most without a noun
We can drop a noun after most if the meaning is clear.
Some people had difficulty with the lecture, but most understood.
Ann and Robby found a lot of blackberries, but Susan found the most.
4. most meaning "very"
Most can be used before adjectives to mean "very" in evaluating expressions, especially in a formal style.
That is most kind of you.
Thank you for a most interesting afternoon.
The experience was most distressing.
一、most后可直接跟名词(可数或不可数)，同时，也可接有形容词修饰的名词。注意：跟可数名词时，谓语动词要用复数形式。如：
Most boys like playing football.大部分男孩都喜欢踢足球。
二、most后不能直接跟有定冠词、指示代词或物主代词所修饰的名词，那么，遇到这些情况用most of代替most。如：
I spent most of my time learning to play the piano last year.去年我把大部分时间都花在学弹钢琴上了。
I did most of that difficult work.那件困难的工作绝大部分都是由我做的。
另外，还需注意以下几点：
1.most of后跟人称代词时，应用复数形式的人称代词宾格。如：
Most of them are going off to Guangzhou next week.他们中的多数人都准备下星期去广州。
2. most前有定冠词时，可用来修饰多音节形容词，表示最高级，意为"最"。如：
This is the most beautiful flower.这是最漂亮的花。
但是，如果most前有不定冠词a，则表示"非常；很"，相当于very。如：
She is a most beautiful girl.她是个非常漂亮的姑娘。
3.most of后接表示时间的名词时，在句中可作状语，修饰谓语动词。如：
Most of the time we eat fish.绝大部分时间我们都吃鱼肉。
