ALMOST vs. MOST    ~近くの(= ほとんどの) vs. 大半の

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Almost (+ a number or quantity) means "nearly". For example, if there are more than 900 pages, we can say there are almost 1000 pages.

The meaning of most (+ plural noun or uncountable noun) can be quite different depending on the speaker and the situation. In some cases, it can mean more than 50% of something; in other cases, it can mean nearly all of something.

(Be careful: Any plural or uncountable noun can be used immediately after most. But the kinds of words that follow almost are more limited: numbers and certain expressions of quantity, such as "all", "everyone", and "nothing". For example, although we say, "most students", we do NOT say, "almost students". We must say, "almost TEN students", "almost EVERYONE", etc.)

almost (+数または量)は、その数量に近いという意味です。例:900ページより多かったら、almost 1000 pages と言うことができます。

most (+名詞の複数形、または数えられない名詞)は、話し手や、状況によって意味がかなり異なります。50%を超えるという意味で使うこともあれば、ほとんどという意味で使うこともあります。

注意: most の場合は、すぐ後に名詞の複数形、または数えられない名詞が来ます。けれども almost のすぐ後には、来る言葉が限られています――数と、"all"、 "everyone"、"nothing" などの数量を表す言葉です。例: most students とは言いますが、almost students は間違いです。 almost TEN students(10人近い生徒)、almost EVERYONE(ほとんどの人)などと言わなければなりません。
 
 
1.My new car gets 38 ... almost 40 miles per gallon of gasoline.
2.That director's last film took almost ten years to complete.
3.Almost all of my friends are married now. Only Greg is still single.
4.Most houses in this neighborhood were built before World War II, but a few were constructed in the '50s and '60s.
5.I can eat most Japanese food except "natto", "shiokara", and anything with raw fish.
6.Most airlines raise their fares during peak travel seasons.
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