none: singular or plural

[ctivnan]

Is the pronoun, 'None' singular or plural in form?

e.g.

None of the students (is, are) interested in the current news.

[lasher]

Hey now MsC,

I would have to say none is plural.....

Is seems so singular while Are just sounds plural....

And when I hear somone saying (not to me, of course), "All right, young man, we'll have none of that going on in here!", I get a picture of many things that shouldn't be going on at that particular place as opposed to one thing going on....

or..

"I want none of them." - Them = more than one in this example.

Oh-Oh - now I'm confusing myself..........:bounce:

If them is plural, would that make that singular? And if it did, what would become of none in this statement??????

"I want none of that!"

MsC, would that make this none a singular? Hmmmm? :bgigrin1:

[ctivnan]

As always I am glad to have a chance to discuss matters with you, lasher.:victory:

None of is commonly followed by DEFINITE PLURAL COUNT NOUNS or NONCOUNT NOUNS.

e.g.
None of the students/glasses/markers...

None of the furniture/equipment/information...


So, 'none of that' must be a colloquial use of the pattern.

Now, let's move on to the confusing part -- singular or plural in agreement?

Quite interestingly enough, none of can be followed by either a singular or a plural verb! The only difference is in its contextual usage: formality and informality.

e.g.
None of the students are interested in the current news.
(subjects none of are considered PLURAL in informal speech and writing)

None of the students is interested in the current news.
(subjects none of are considered SINGULAR in very formal speech and writing)

Is it somehow clearer? :coffeedrink:

[lasher]

Hey now MsC,

Yes, I believe it is.

So, it really does come down to whether one uses is or are, -

Is for singular and are for plural...

Thank you for taking the time to answer so clearly, mucho appreciated.....

:thankyou: :cheers:

[ctivnan]

:character: You're welcome! :character:

[dalrbert08]

how about "none of your business":WINKING:?

[dipal.madlani]

as my opinion this is not respectable ....

[nikolle]

NONE can be either singular or plural and it often doesn't matter whether one uses a singular or plural verb unless something else in the sentence determines its number.

Example: None of the accused pleads guilty to the crime.
None of the accused plead guilty to the crime.

None of the students have submitted their project. (Here, the pronoun their precludes the use of singular subject.)

[mhia_adrienne]

As always I am glad to have a chance to discuss matters with you, lasher.:victory:

None of is commonly followed by DEFINITE PLURAL COUNT NOUNS or NONCOUNT NOUNS.

e.g.
None of the students/glasses/markers...

None of the furniture/equipment/information...


So, 'none of that' must be a colloquial use of the pattern.

Now, let's move on to the confusing part -- singular or plural in agreement?

Quite interestingly enough, none of can be followed by either a singular or a plural verb! The only difference is in its contextual usage: formality and informality.

e.g.
None of the students are interested in the current news.
(subjects none of are considered PLURAL in informal speech and writing)

None of the students is interested in the current news.
(subjects none of are considered SINGULAR in very formal speech and writing)

Is it somehow clearer? :coffeedrink:


Thanks ctivnan! It helps m a lot in my studies.

:superhappy:

[ctivnan]

Thanks ctivnan! It helps m a lot in my studies.

:superhappy:

That's great, Mhia_adrienne! :inlove:

You're welcome! :wave:

[sam_wel]

i've learned that none, 1, 1/3, /1/4, 1/2 are all singulars.... right?

[ctivnan]

i've learned that none, 1, 1/3, /1/4, 1/2 are all singulars.... right?

Right! :Cat Smiley 6111:

[ronzam2002]

I think are is the answer..

[mickrio]

Ross= Ross's (singular possessive), Rosses' (plural possessive), Rosses (plural)...

[shah.baz]

I think none' singular in form...

[AlexisTurman]

A typical false impression is that “none” must always be addressed as unique.