228-use OF or not?

[matilda]

Hello all

There is a bad struggle between two of the teachers I know, each insisting on his own idea. They wanted me ask their question and inform them.
One of them says: it is incorrect to say (most of the people are …) or (some of the people are …). He says we have to say (most people are…) or (some people are …) and the other one insists on using both forms and believes that we can use both and using the first examples makes no problem. What do you think?
Who is right?

Regards

Matilda

[hlbert03]

Hi,

Based on what I know, the phrases (most of the people are) and (some of the people are) mean that you are referring to certain people. You know exactly whom you are talking about. On the other hand, the (most people are) and (some people are) are uncertain phrases. You are talking about the general.

Hope this helps.

[Fazzu]

Hi Matilda,

Both could be used.It depends on the how you are structuring a sentence with them.

E.g Most people are blind.
Some people are not blind.

[Coffa]

Originally Posted by matilda

Hello all
There is a bad struggle between two of the teachers I know, each insisting on his own idea. They wanted me ask their question and inform them.
One of them says: it is incorrect to say (most of the people are …) or (some of the people are …). He says we have to say (most people are…) or (some people are …) and the other one insists on using both forms and believes that we can use both and using the first examples makes no problem. What do you think?
Who is right?
Regards
Matilda

'The other one' is correct .

Tell the first one to look up the well-known English proverb "You can please some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time." Most people would agree that it's true .

[Coffa]

Originally Posted by hlbert03

Hi,
Based on what I know, the phrases (most of the people are) and (some of the people are) mean that you are referring to certain people. You know exactly whom you are talking about. On the other hand, the (most people are) and (some people are) are uncertain phrases. You are talking about the general.
Hope this helps.

I'm afraid that's not correct. The following sentences are identical in meaning:

1) "Most of the people who are smokers will die from cancer."
2) "Most people who smoke will die from cancer."

[rincui]

I think both sentences are correct.

most + of + the + noun

most + noun

[Fazzu]

Hi Rincui,

First time seeing one from Singapore in this forum.

Hey Coffa,you didn't comment on my post!Can I consider it as correct?

[DavyBCN]

Originally Posted by Coffa

I'm afraid that's not correct. The following sentences are identical in meaning:
1) "Most of the people who are smokers will die from cancer."
2) "Most people who smoke will die from cancer."

Can I suggest that both you and hlbert are correct, depending on the context? In your example they are identical but :-

Most people speak Spanish.
Most of the people speak Spanish.

In the first I would assume the speaker meant everyone in the world. If the speaker used the second phrase I would assume everyone in a particular group, location, etc, and would probably ask "Which people?"