1. Eggs are most helpful for people who have nerve damage.

(In this sentence, does 'most' mean 'very'?)

2. Eggs are the most helpful for people who have nerve damage.

(What about this one? Are both different in meaning?)

Yes. In these sentences, most and very have about the same meanings.

Thank you. What about in #2? Do you mean the two sentence is the same in meaning?

Thank you. What about in #2? Do you mean the two sentences are the same in meaning?

They mean about the same. However, in number 2, there's an implication that eggs are not as helpful for other conditions.

1. In the first sentence, "most" does not mean "very." Instead, it is used as a comparative adjective meaning "more helpful than anything else." When used in this way, "most" is indicating that eggs are the most helpful option or the option that provides the greatest benefit for people with nerve damage among other possible choices.

To find out the meaning of "most" in a sentence, you can consider the context and the surrounding words. Additionally, you can consult a dictionary or a reliable source to understand the specific usage of the word in different contexts.

2. In the second sentence, "the most" is also used as a comparative adjective. However, it adds a specific emphasis. "The most" is used when comparing a particular option or item to all other available options or items in a category. Therefore, the sentence "Eggs are the most helpful for people who have nerve damage" implies that among all possible choices, eggs are the most helpful.

The difference between the two sentences is that the second sentence uses "the most" to emphasize that eggs are the absolute top choice for people with nerve damage. It emphasizes that, in terms of helpfulness, eggs surpass all other options.