Is 'none' plural or singular?

[bebe heart]

How do we use "None" in a sentence?

 

[Roman55]

Re: None is plural or singular?

I am not a teacher.

See here. Pay attention to the 'Usage' note.

 

[Rover_KE]

bebe heart, I have amended your thread title in post #1.

Please note the correct way to ask a question.

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, Bebe Heart:


You have already received an excellent link. May I add a few extra words?

Sometimes I hear some news readers on TV say, "None of the passengers was hurt," and I hear others say, "None of the passengers were hurt."

Here is some advice from a person who used to work for The New York Times (considered by many people to be the most important American newspaper).

1, "Most authorities have always believed that none is closer in meaning to 'not any (of them)' than to 'not one (of them).' "

2, So it's considered plural in most cases: "None of the chickens are hatched."

3. "None is singular only when it means 'none of it' -- that is to say, 'no amount.' "

a. "None of the milk was spilled."

4. She then gives this advice: "When you really [my emphasis] do mean 'not one,' it's better to say 'not one.' "

a. "Not one of Holyfield's fingers was broken."

i. Compare: "None of Holyfield's fingers were broken." (That is, "Not any of Holyfield's fingers were broken.")


Credit for this information goes to Patricia T. O'Conner, Woe Is I (1996 edition).

 

[Matthew Wai]

'not any (of them)'

I have seen an opinion that 'any of us' is the same as 'any one of us', so it takes a singular verb.

 

[bebe heart]

So it depends on what we mean.
None of us are going tomorrow. (Not any)
None of us is going tomorrow. (Not one)

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, Bebe Heart:

I am not qualified to answer your question.

In my opinion, however, I think that Ms. O'Conner might recommend the following:

1. None of us are going tomorrow. (Not any of us.)

2. Not one of us is going tomorrow. (Not one of us.)


*****

Only my personal opinion: I actually agree with you that some speakers who say, "None of us is going tomorrow" may be thinking of "not one." Perhaps that is the reason that some news readers will say, "None of the passengers was hurt."

If, however, you are seeking to speak natural-sounding English, you might want to consider Ms. O'Conner's advice.

 

[bebe heart]

It will be more natural if I use "none" for plural.
Am I right?

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Could you please give us an example?

 

[Matthew Wai]

The OP may give an example after reading http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/g11.html

 

[bebe heart]

For example: "None of my classmates are attending tomorrow's party." Would be more natural than "None of my classmates is attending tomorrow's party."

 

[bhaisahab]

Yes.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I would go with "are" there.