Why do we use "the most" as in "Which countries travel the most?", why not just "Which countries travel most?"

Question

Recently, I discovered that some people use the most in sentences such as Which countries travel the most or we stress the last number the most.

Why not just most?

For example, is it ok to say Which countries travel most or we stress the last number most.

the most sounds very strange to my ears.

Extra info: So what is the difference between:

Which one do you love most?

and

Which one do you love the most?

Countries don't travel—people travel. – Brian Hitchcock Jul 10 '15 at 07:30 — Brian Hitchcock, Jul 10 '15 at 07:30

score -1 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 10 '15 at 04:43

-1

The correct question is the first one though, cuz in case you want to say, what countries travel most? Then you should use more instead of most. Hence, every time you use most you must add the. The most beautiful thing. She is most beautiful girl on Earth.this one sounds weird cuz I didn't put "the"

answered Jul 10 '15 at 04:43

Orlan Sanchez

111

So what is the difference between:
Which one do you love most?

and

Which one do you love the most?
– Tom Jul 10 '15 at 06:28
No difference, "the" is often left out in informal English. If you google on both expressions, "most" is more commonly used. Refer to this discussion. – Graffito Aug 09 '15 at 09:10

Why do we use "the most" as in "Which countries travel the most?", why not just "Which countries travel most?"

1 Answers1