Most or the most

[Rachel Adams]

Can I omit "the" in this question?


A: "I have lots of hobbies. I enjoy reading, playing tennis, swimming, and sewing."

B: "What do you like most/the most?"

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Yes. It's fine either way.

 

[Rachel Adams]

Yes. It's fine either way.

Does the meaning change without "the" and is the article always optional before "most"? These sentences are from one of my textbooks is it optional in them too? I mean if I add "the" will the sentences be wrong?

1. "The accident occurred most abruptly."

2. "I most anxiously await your arrival."

3. "Kerri most assuredly did not do what you accused her of."

 

[5jj]

These sentences are from one of my textbooks is it optional in them too

You should now by now that we always require the title and author of books you quote from.

 

[emsr2d2]

A: "I have lots of hobbies. I enjoy reading, playing tennis, swimming, and sewing."
B: "What do you like most/the most?"

I'd probably use "Which" if I were person B.

 

[Rachel Adams]

You should now by now that we always require the title and author of books you quote from.

I know, but I can't find which book they are from. :-| I will search again. Could you please answer my question if it's wrong to use "the" in them?

 

[emsr2d2]

Does the meaning change without "the" and is the article always optional before "most"? These sentences are from one of my textbooks. Is it optional in them too? I mean, if I add "the" will the sentences be wrong?

1. "The accident occurred most abruptly."

2. "I most anxiously await your arrival."

3. "Kerri most assuredly did not do what you accused her of."

Adding the article would be wrong in all three. In those sentences, "most" means "very".

 

[Rachel Adams]

Adding the article would be wrong in all three. In those sentences, "most" means "very".

I can't still find an explanation for not using "the" in this sentence before "best". "The room which (best) reflects my personality is my study." Being a non-native speaker, I wouldn't use it other. But I don't understand what is it based on.

 

[emsr2d2]

It depends on the word order.

1. The room that best reflects my personality ...
2. The room that reflects my personality best ...
3. The room that reflects my personality the best ...

As you can see, you can use "the best" with the word order of sentences 2 and 3. In sentence 1, it would be wrong.