Comments on: “None Were” vs. “None Was”

By: Jane

Jane — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 01:12:53 +0000

Yes, you are correct. Now that you’ve found the site, I hope you can make your money back on future bets!

By: sonia g.

sonia g. — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:46:16 +0000

OK thanks for the info and debate…Because of this, I just lost my bet….so I guess I am correct in saying, “None of the money I had before coming to this site is left!”

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:01:37 +0000

Words like none and some are indefinite pronouns. They are often singular but can also carry a plural sense. AP Stylebook explains, " None usually means no single one. When used in this sense, it always takes singular verbs and pronouns: None of the seats was in its right place.Use a plural verb only if the sense is no two or no amount: None of the consultants agree on the same approach. None of the taxes have been paid.

By: Dimitri

Dimitri — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 07:56:21 +0000

‘None of you are informed’ is as bad as

‘Me and her went to the movies’ or

‘This is between she and I’

‘None’ is singular and the verb should agree with it.

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 07:00:51 +0000

Portion words are tricky. They are not, in and of themselves, singular or plural and thus most persons have a hard time determining whether to use a singular or plural verb. Referencing the object of the preposition provides a helpful hint as to whether to use a singular or plural verb.

By: Romy

Romy — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 03:16:32 +0000

This is TOTALLY wrong!!!! Whether a verb is singular or plural is determined solely by the subject of that verb. Nothing in a prepositional phrase can affect that. In fact, that’s just about the first thing you learn about subject-verb agreement!

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:09:59 +0000

Yes, you can use the present tense “none is” and “none are.”
Examples:
None is gone. (None of the cake is gone.)
None are home. (None of the children are home.)

You would say, “All of the group is participating,” since group is a singular noun.

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:06:22 +0000

But what about the present tense? You can say “none was” and ” none were” but can you say “none is” as well as “none are”? I don’t think you can say “all is”… Would it be:

All of the group is participating?

All of the group are participating?

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 16:14:44 +0000

You are welcome, Prateek! I am glad you find our website helpful. Good luck on your exam!

By: Prateek

Prateek — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:00:13 +0000

Hello Jane,
I am from India and I am preparing for GRE Exam.I am a regular visitor of your website.Your post was very helpful to me.Questions involving the use of “none” with “is/are” are considered quite difficult to answer.You resolved all my queries.

Thank you.Keep up the good work !