More often/ the most often?

4 replies
Forums · General English Grammar & Vocabulary, Listening & Speaking · General English Grammar Questions
Is there any difference in sense between:

"Which do you use more often, bus or train?"
"Which do you use the most often, bus or train?"

Thanks.
Full Member253
Technically, the first asks you to compare only the two named things, while the second asks you to compare more than two things, of which only the two named are expected as the answer (i.e. expected to be the most used).

In practice, the second is commonly used in the first sense, and most people neither notice nor care. Even so, if you are comparing only the two named things then I recommend the first version as superior.
Veteran Member6,295
Proficient Speaker: Users in this role are known to maintain an excellent grasp of the English language. You can only be promoted to this role by the Englishforums team.Trusted Users: Trusted users are allowed to use additional capabilities of the site such as private messaging to all users and various other advanced features. You cannot join this role unless you are promoted by an administrator.
And I guess the article can be left out, right?

Which do you use most often?
Veteran Member5,652
Retired Moderator: A moderator who has retired.Trusted Users: Trusted users are allowed to use additional capabilities of the site such as private messaging to all users and various other advanced features. You cannot join this role unless you are promoted by an administrator.
Looking for ESL work?: Try our EFL / TOEFL / ESL Jobs Section!
KooyeenAnd I guess the article can be left out, right?

Which do you use most often?

Yes. The article certainly can be left out.

CJ
Veteran Member71,583
Moderator: A super-user who takes care of the forums. You have the ability to message a moderator privately should you wish. These users have a range of elevated privileges including the deletion, editing and movement of posts when needed.Proficient Speaker: Users in this role are known to maintain an excellent grasp of the English language. You can only be promoted to this role by the Englishforums team.
Technically, "the" is required by basic grammar rule as "most" is the superlative form. But we often see contexts omitting it. Time modifiers such as "often", or "frequent" should be used along with " the most" in a superlative context.

Compare the following:

1) If you go on to the national lottery website, it will tell you the most frequently drawn numbers. 2) What lottery numbers come up most often?, Notice "the" is missing in the latter sentence.
Senior Member4,167

Places to start


Social


  • Like us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Google+

    • Browse Englishforums


    Help