la plupart de
The English phrase "most of" is translated into French as la plupart de.
la plupart de is used to refer to the majority of a particular group of people or things.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you follow the phrase with a definite article (the), la plupart de contracts to la plupart des before masculine or feminine plural nouns. If you use la plupart as a pronoun without a following noun, such as in "Most of them", it is still followed by a plural verb.
Did you know?
- The phrase la plupart is a calque, meaning it was borrowed and translated word-for-word from a Germanic phrase similar to the Old English 'māra dǣl'.
- While la plupart refers to a majority, it is not a synonym for la majorité. The latter is often used for a formal mathematical majority, while la plupart is used for a general abundance.
- In very formal or literary French, you may see la plupart used with a singular verb, though this is now rare and considered archaic in modern speech.
Examples in context
- La plupart des chiens sont vivants.Most of the dogs are alive.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use la plupart de when referring to dogs.Tatoeba #3631767 by sacredceltic, translation #33332 by CM
- La plupart des plantes sont mortes.Most of the plants died.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use la plupart de when referring to plants.Tatoeba #4551246 by sacredceltic, translation #4083741 by CK
- La plupart des employés sont partis.Most of the staff has left.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use la plupart de when referring to employees.Tatoeba #7093154 by Micsmithel, translation #5471376 by CK
- La plupart des étudiants aiment les sciences.Most of the students like sciences.
- La majorité des citoyens soutient ce projet.Most of the citizens support this project.
- La plupart du temps , je fais du sport.Most of the time, I do sports.
- Presque tous les élèves préfèrent les mathématiques.Most of the students prefer mathematics.
- 80 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their classmates at a cafe.
- ManonLa plupart des étudiants sont déjà là.Most of the students are already here.
- NathanC'est vrai, mais où est Marc ?That's true, but where is Marc?
- ManonJe pense qu'il a raté le bus.I think he missed the bus.
- NathanAh, c'est dommage pour lui.Ah, that's too bad for him.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, la, plupart, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
