[Grammar] None of + (singular) (plural)

[youandcorey]

Do you feel "none of" may be use with either a singular or a plural verb?

I'd like to confirm that both of these are correct:

None of the girls likes me. Correct???
None of the girls like me. Correct

BUT...

None of the cars are broken. Correct
None of the car is broken. Incorrect

 

[youandcorey]

I just found this example in a textbook:
None of the girls likes jogging. Corect
None of the girls like jogging. Incorrect (I'm surprised the text says this one is incorrect)

Do you feel "none of" may be use with either a singular or a plural verb?

I'd like to confirm that both of these are correct:

None of the girls likes me. Correct???
None of the girls like me. Correct

BUT...

None of the cars are broken. Correct
None of the car is broken. Incorrect

 

[Barb_D]

People who are strictly prescriptive will tell you that "none" takes a singular verb.

If you search this forum (or other ESL forums) you'll fine a LOT of discussion on this.

In the end, not only do native speakers not agree, but the same speaker will be inconsistent in how he or she uses it.

 

[youandcorey]

Thanks Barb! You're the best!

 

[corum]

Do you feel "none of" may be use with either a singular or a plural verb?

I'd like to confirm that both of these are correct:

None of the girls likes me. Correct???
None of the girls like me. Correct

BUT...

None of the cars are broken. Correct
None of the car is broken. Incorrect

None of the cars are broken. :tick:
Zero (among these cars) are broken. (only 'one' is singular; zero is not 'one' --> zero = plural)

None of the car is never correct --> 'none' presupposes you have a choice (from more than one items) --> none of the cars

-----
None of the cars is broken. :tick:
Not one (none) of the cars is broken

 

[TheParser]

Do you feel "none of" may be use with either a singular or a plural verb?

I'd like to confirm that both of these are correct:

None of the girls likes me. Correct???
None of the girls like me. Correct

BUT...

None of the cars are broken. Correct
None of the car is broken. Incorrect

:!::!::!: NOT A TEACHER :!::!::!:


Youandcorey,


In case you have not yet read Woe Is I by Ms. Patricia T. O'Conner

("a former editor at The New York Times Book Review"), I most

respectfully direct your attention to her opinion:

(1) If it suggests "none of them," use the plural:

None are excited. (None of the fans are excited.)


(2) If it suggests "none of it," use the singular:

None was worth broadcasting. (None of the boxing bout was ....)

She then gives this very practical and commonsense advice:

(My wording) If you REALLY mean "not one," then just

say/write "not one"!!!


THANK YOU & HAVE A NICE DAY

 

[corum]

(1) If it suggests "none of them," use the plural:

None are excited. (None of the fans are excited.)


(2) If it suggests "none of it," use the singular:

The "none of it" and "none of them" forms are governed by the countability value of the subsequent NP. No semantics is involved here, IMO.

 

[youandcorey]

Great advice can surely be found at this forum. Thank you all very much!