Articles: 'most/some of' + plural noun

Writers often write "most of students" or "some of books." Fixing this is usually mechanical: either put a determiner after "of" (the, my, these, those, a pronoun) or drop "of" to make a general statement ("most students").

The sections below give the quick rule, clear examples for work, school and casual writing, copy-paste wrong/right pairs, and fast rewrite templates you can use immediately.

Quick answer

Use "most of" or "some of" only when the noun phrase after it contains a determiner (the, my, our), a demonstrative (these/those), or a pronoun (them/us). For general plural nouns, omit "of": say "most students" or "some books."

• "Most of the students" = a specific, identifiable group.
• "Most students" = students in general (no "of").
• "Some of my friends" and "Some of these files" are correct because a determiner follows "of."
• If there is no determiner after "of," either add one or remove "of."

Core rule and quick grammar notes

"Most" and "some" behave two ways with plural nouns:

• Use "most/some of + determiner/pronoun + plural noun": "most of the applicants," "some of my colleagues," "most of them."
• Use plain "most/some + plural noun" for a general statement: "most applicants," "some colleagues."

Note: when the following word is a pronoun, keep "of": "some of them," "most of us." When the following word is a determiner (the, this, my, these), keep "of." Otherwise, drop "of."

Real usage: work, school, casual

Here are natural examples you can use right away.

• Work
  • Most of the team agreed on the timeline. (specific project team)
  • Some employees work remotely. (general statement)
  • We shared the notes with some of our clients. (specific clients)
• School
  • Most of the students in my class handed in the assignment. (that class)
  • Some teachers prefer handwritten exams. (general)
  • She read some of the articles before class. (specific set of articles)
• Casual
  • Some of my friends are coming to the party. (your friends)
  • Most people like summer. (general)
  • I lent a few books to some of the neighbors. (particular neighbors)

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence. Ask: am I naming a specific group (the, my, these, those, them) or speaking generally? Context gives the right answer.

Wrong vs right examples you can copy

These pairs show the exact fixes. Copy the right lines into your drafts.

• Wrong: Most of students passed the exam.
  Right: Most students passed the exam.
• Wrong: Some of books on the shelf are dusty.
  Right: Some books on the shelf are dusty.
• Wrong: Most of employees work from home.
  Right: Most employees work from home.
• Wrong: Some of my coworkers arrived late.
  Right: Some of my coworkers arrived late. (already correct)
• Wrong: Most of children love recess.
  Right: Most children love recess.
• Wrong: Some of articles were behind a paywall.
  Right: Some of the articles were behind a paywall.

How to fix your own sentence (fast rewrite templates)

Follow three quick steps: identify, choose, and read aloud.

• Step 1: Identify whether you mean a specific set or a general group.
• Step 2: If specific, add a determiner/pronoun after "of" ("the," "my," "these," "them"). If general, drop "of."
• Step 3: Read the sentence aloud to check tone and flow.

Three ready rewrites:

• Original: Most of students in our cohort passed. →
  Rewrite: Most students in our cohort passed. (generalizing the cohort)
• Original: Some of books on that shelf are missing. →
  Rewrite: Some of the books on that shelf are missing. (specific shelf)
• Original: Is most of people happy with the change? →
  Rewrite: Are most people happy with the change? (general population)

A simple memory trick

Link the form to meaning: when you can point to a particular group-"the students," "my files," "these options"-use "of." If you're talking about a category without pointing-"students," "books," "employees"-drop "of."

• Picture a specific set when you hear "of."
• When no set comes to mind, choose the simpler "most/some + plural noun."
• Do a quick search of your document for "most of " and "some of " and check the following word-fix any that lack determiners.

Similar mistakes and quick checks

Writers who miss "of" often make related spacing and form errors. A short scan saves time.

• Split words or accidental spaces (e.g., "in to" vs "into").
• Hyphen confusion in compounds (e.g., "long term" vs "long-term").
• Wrong pronoun forms after "of"-you need object pronouns: "some of them," not "some of they."
• Verb agreement: "Most students are" (plural), not "is."

FAQ

Is it "most of the students" or "most students"?

Both are correct. Use "most of the students" for a specific group (the students in our class). Use "most students" to make a general statement about students overall.

Can I say "most of my friends" or "most friends"?

"Most of my friends" is natural when referring to your own friends. "Most friends" generalizes about friends in general and is less common with a possessive.

Why is "some of books" wrong?

"Some of" requires a determiner or pronoun after it. "Some of books" lacks that word. Use "Some books" for a general meaning or "Some of the books" / "Some of these books" for a specific set.

When do I need "of" after "most" or "some"?

Keep "of" when the noun phrase includes a determiner (the, my, these) or a pronoun: "most of the students," "some of my colleagues," "most of them." Omit "of" for general plural nouns: "most students," "some books."

Quick check: "Most of students passed the exam"-how to fix it?

Decide whether you mean a particular class. If yes, add "the": "Most of the students passed the exam." If you mean students in general, write "Most students passed the exam."

Want a quick check?

If you are unsure, ask the three questions: specific group? determiner/pronoun after "of"? general statement? Adding "the" or dropping "of" fixes most errors instantly.