Grammar Day: Almost vs. Almost All

Can You Tell the Difference Between These Sentences?

Almost vs. Almost all – they sound so similar and many students confuse them, but their meanings are actually different. Let’s have a look at the following sentences:

1. “Almost people value their personal space.”

2. “Almost all people value their personal space.”

3. “Almost all of the people value their personal space.”

Can you tell the difference between these sentences?

First of all, (2) and (3) sentences are grammatically correct, while (1) isn’t. Almost is a degree adverb meaning nearly but not quite. So, if you say “almost people…” you are saying that those people are nearly but not quite people.

How to Use “Almost”

Almost is an adverb. It goes with verb phrases very often. When it modifies a verb, it normally goes before the verb.

• He has almost completed the duty.
• This means that he did not complete his duty yet, but he is mostly done.
• Kathy almost won the lottery.
• This means that Kathy did not win the lottery, but she was close to winning.

If the verb is a form of be, almost goes after it.

• There were almost thousand people out there.
• This means that there were fewer than, but close to, one thousand people. 
• There was almost nothing to eat.
• This means that there were very few things to eat.

When almost is used to modify an adjective just like any other adverbs can, it goes before the adjective.

• Jordan is almost late for school.
• This means that Jordan was not late, but he was close to being late.
• Camila was almost ready to leave.
• This means that Camila was not ready to leave, but she would be ready soon.

Almost + All

Almost can be used with expressions like every, all, nothing, and no-one. Today, we will look at this expression: almost all.

When almost is used as “almost all,” it refers to a very large percentage (99%). It can be used like ‘most’ but usually means a bigger number.

• Almost all students passed the listening test.
• This means that a large number of students passed the listening test, but a few students did not.
• Almost all cats hate baths.
• This means that a large number cats hate baths, but a few cats like to take baths.
• Almost all children like to run.
• This means that a large number of children like to run, but a few children do not.

In addition, while almost all people means ‘the majority of the people in the world,’ almost all of the people means ‘the majority of a specific group of people’.

• Almost all of the students in Level 3 passed the listening test.
• This means that we are talking about a specific group of students.

So, remember!

• Incorrect: Almost Koreans like Kimchi.
• In this sentence, the subject describes people who are not actually Korean but are nearly Korean.
• Correct: Almost all Koreans like Kimchi.
• In this sentence, this means that a large number of Koreans like Kimchi.