None but the brave deserve(s) the fair?

[keannu]

Why is deserve plural when none is singular in this proverb? Is it an exceptional case?

ex)None but the brave deserve(s) the fair?

[Rover_KE]

None but the brave means only brave people so the correct form is

None but the brave deserve the fair.Prov. Only a courageous and gallant man deserves a beautiful woman.; Only the best deserves the best. Stop making excuses and just call Gina. None but the brave deserve the fair.

(Free Dictionary)

Rover

[bhaisahab]

None but the brave means only brave people so the correct form is


(Free Dictionary)

Rover

Yes that's true, but Dryden's original text, from Alexander's Feast 1697, has "deserves".

[Rover_KE]

Also, for those studying 200-year-old poetry, Dyden's text also includes sate (sat), quire (choir) and hautboys (oboes).

Rover

[The Dude]

I think you can be flexible about this and would say that, in my opinion anyway, the use of 'none' has come to mean not only 'not one/no-one'. It also now covers 'not any', and thus can take a plural verb where appropriate.

"Is there any sugar?" can be answered with "No, there isn't any", but also with "No, there's none." (= not any + singular)

"We're all really tired, so none of us are going to the cinema tonight. We just can't be bothered." (= not any + plural)

"Are there any people left inside? No, there are none." (plural + not any)

In the last two we want to emphasize the plurality: 'we're all not going', rather than 'not one of us is going', 'people' rather than 'person'. This also makes your quotation reasonable, as 'the brave' refers to 'all brave people'.

I have a feeling this may be disputed. Fire away!

[BobK]

Yes that's true, but Dryden's original text, from Alexander's Feast 1697, has "deserves".

Until the early-mid 20th century there was a belief (followed by a prescription that lasted well into my education) that 'none' means 'not one' and so takes a verb in the singular. Dryden was just doing what he was told!

b