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I wrote:

the most uses of the system includes sharing teaching materials, posting and receiving assignments and grade books.

But I didn't find any similar usage of "the most uses" in the Web. However there are millions for "the main uses", what is the difference?

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  • uses is plural, thus include. You've used it correctly, and you should be able to find gazillions of similar constructions. For the sake of parallelism, you might consider adding a verb before "grade books". Jan 23, 2016 at 9:25

2 Answers 2

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I think your sentence is fine, considering the numerous similar examples rendered here.

However, you should use include instead of includes as the verb should agree with the subject, that is, plural.

And, as TRomano points out in his comment, you also need a verb before grade books.

As for your update, the use of most is valid either, as main and most have close meanings.

In your context most is a determiner that denotes the greatest amount (majority} of uses whereas main indicates the most important, principal or chief uses.

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  • I did it, @Ahmad. Jan 29, 2016 at 8:15
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The terms main and most are similar in meaning, but they don't behave the same from a grammatical perspective.

For example, when used at the beginning of a sentence the expression main uses of the system often takes a definite article:

The main uses of the system include X, Y, and Z.

(This article isn't required, but it is often included.)

On the other hand, the expression most uses of the system would ordinarily omit the definite article:

Most uses of the system are safe and don't involve any personal risk.

That said, when used as an object, the superlative most often uses a definite article:

Of all the uses of the system, X is the most risky and requires stringent safety precautions.

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  • Thanks, but you still didn't say why "the most uses" with "the" is incorrect, I think "most" here is a determiner itself and we don't put two determiners beside each other, right?
    – Ahmad
    Jan 29, 2016 at 8:31

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