[Grammar] No-singular or plural?

[word5810]

1) There was nothing left in the room.
2) There were nothing left in the room.

Which is right?

1) There was no restaurant open on Sunday in this town
2) There were no restaurants open on Sunday in this town

Which is right?

It is somwhat difficult to know when to use singular or plural? Is there anybody who can help me with me?

 

[billmcd]

1) There was nothing left in the room. OK, "nothing" always takes a singular verb.

2) There were nothing left in the room. X

Which is right?

1) There was no restaurant open on Sunday in this town. OK, singular "restaurant"
2) There were no restaurants open on Sunday in this town. OK plural "restaurants"

Which is right?

It is somwhat difficult to know when to use singular or plural? Is there anybody who can help me with me?

Also, as I responded to a recent post, everyone/no one/everybody/somebody/someone/nothing/everything/nobody, all take a singular verb form.

 

[5jj]

1) There was no restaurant open on Sunday in this town
2) There were no restaurants open on Sunday in this town

Which is right?

It is somwhat difficult to know when to use singular or plural? Is there anybody who can help me with me?

As bilmcd said, they are both possible. For me, #1 is more emphatic than #2; it has the idea of 'there was not even one restaurant open'.