MOST - MOST OF THE

[angel_thefool]

I feel quite confused of the use of "most" and "most of the". I need some help with this problem.
Could you please tell me the difference between "most societies" and most of the societies" in these sentences:
- Eggs are still used in most societies.
- Egga are still used in most of the societies.(1)
The key in my text book says that the underlined phrase in sentence (1) is wrong but I find no explanation.
Thank you very much

[Alan]

Hi angel_thefool,

This is really a question of being specific or not and the would specify. Look at these:

Most young people smoke nowadays.

Most of the young people in this office smoke. (Specific)

Alan
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[angelos]

But I dont understand
please explain again!

[Jamie (K)]

[Iasku]

Can u please. explain me that what i use here. (most or most of the).

The insurance company has plans to hire 30,000 agents at a time when most companies / most of the companies are cutting jobs.
please. answer me.

[Beeesneees]

You would use 'most' in that sentence because you are talking about other companies in general.

The insurance company has plans to hire 30,000 agents at a time when most companies companies are cutting jobs.

If you were talking about a specific group of companies then you would use 'Most of the':

The insurance company has plans to hire 30,000 agents at a time when most of the companies in that area are cutting jobs.

By the way, there is no such word in English as 'u'. You mean 'you' and the pronoun 'I' is always written as a capital letter.
Can you please explain to me what I use here:
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Cheers m' dears!

[Mbprof]

I know more a new thing from this topic.

Thanks