We use almost and nearly to refer to the progress of things, especially if we are measuring and counting things. In these examples, almost and nearly can both be used:

[someone has been running five miles on a running machine in a gym]

Don’t give up! You’re almost there.

It’s time for bed. It’s nearly 10 o’clock.

Their CD has sold almost 90,000 copies in the last week.

Nearly all my friends were in the photograph.

We also use almost and nearly with extreme adjectives such as perfect, impossible or frozen:

That guy is almost impossible.

The chicken is still nearly frozen. I thought you’d taken it out of the freezer.

We use almost (but not nearly) to soften statements:

I almost wish I hadn’t offered to pay his fine.

We use almost before any and before negative words such as no, none, never, nobody, nothing. We don’t use nearly in this way:

[describing computer software which traces the history of towns]

Using this special software, you can find the history of almost any building.

They’ve almost no confidence that they can use the new phone properly.

She almost never raises her voice.

Not: She nearly never raises her voice.

Almost means "nearly" / "not complete".It is used before verbs/adverbs.(Itself is an adverb).
eg.I was almost late to college (nearly late but not late)
I am almost finished with my work.(except few tasks)

Almost all refers to everything (i.e., not nearly , it refers to complete thing)
That means Almost all = Almost + All
Almost all makes "nearly" to "complete"
eg.I know almost all the concepts (it means I know all the concepts) is same as I know almost every concept(I know everything)

Most is an adjective (Can be used only in front of nouns) which specifies major part/higher contribution
eg.
Most of the Indians are Engineers(It means Not all but very "large percent" )
Most students passed the exam.

Almost shows approximation while Most projects the majority.
When using almost all before nouns it will give the same meaning as that of Most.
eg. Most students passed the exam = Almost all the students passed the exam = almost everyone.

Most:

1. Used as a determiner (quantifier) before a noun, to denote the highest amount or the greatest degree. Ex- The Perry children ate most of the cake.

2. Used as a pronoun when the noun is obvious. Ex-Only some children were fed properly, most went hungry each night.

3. “The most” is used to denote superlatives:
With a verb: Who cried the most?

With a noun: used to denote more than others. Ex- She has the most clothes in the group.
To make superlative forms of longer adjectives and most adverbs. Ex-She is one of the most gullible customers.

Almost

Almost is used an adverb of degree before a verb. Basically they indicate the intensity or degree of an action. Ex-She almost drowned in the ocean.
It is used as an adjective to mean ‘very near, but not quite’. Ex-My assignment is almost complete.

Almost all

Since ‘all’ means the whole quantity or extent of, ‘almost all’ would be just a trifle less the complete number. Almost all is used when the exact quantity of the whole is not known. Ex-Almost all the fish in the ocean died in the oil spill.

The words almost all, almost and most cause some confusion. Here I show you the most important differences between them.

Almost-

The word almost is an adverb. Its meaning is similar to "nearly".

-- I almost failed the exam. (but I didn't fail)
-- He almost died. (but he didn't die)
-- She's almost twenty years old. (she'll be 20 next month)

Almost all-

People sometimes get confused with almost all, but it's really very simple. It simply means:
almost + all

Look at the this example: I know almost everyone here.

That is the same as saying: I know almost all the people here. (nearly all the people)

Most-
As an adjective, most means the "majority", the "largest part", "nearly all of". For example:

-- Most cars have four doors.
-- Most people would like to be rich.
-- I have been to most countries in Europe, but not all.

We also use most as a pronoun, with a similar meaning:

-- Most of my friends can speak English.
-- I spent most of the $100 you gave me. I've got about $15 left.
-- Some people like to make trouble, but most just want a quiet life.

I hope it serves as an answer for your question.

Thank you!
1.6k Views · 2 Upvotes
Rahul Shah
Rahul Shah, Writing is creating!!
Answered Mar 5, 2015
Ermmm.. Okay.
I will write here the meaning or the use for all the three words you are confused with.
1.Most: A majority. It is used to convey, a high degree of number, in any situation.
2.Almost:On the verge of completion. This is used to signify an action, which is almost on the verge of completion.
3.Almost all: This is also used to describe, A Majority. But, this is a step higher than most, as in this case, it is describing all, baring a few things.

Here are the examples.
1. MOST people in India, can speak english.
2. ALMOST by 2020, India will get the veto power.

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