|
None Is vs. None Are: Which Do You Use?
|
|
Even among those who pay attention to grammar, the none is versus none are debate can be a spirited one. Do you know which one is correct?
We don't want you to get it wrong or to follow misguided advice. That's why we are going to clear things up in today's post.
As a starting point, let's address one issue that causes a lot of confusion.
None Can Be Singular or Plural
Some people will tell you that none are is always incorrect because none is singular. However, in certain contexts, none can carry a plural connotation.
None can be short for "not one is" or "no single one," which are singular uses. However, it can also take on a plural quality, meaning "not one of them" or "not one of any." The key component here is the nuance of the prepositional phrase that modifies none.
This might seem complicated on the surface, but it's simpler when we look at it in a couple of examples.
None of my suits is right for a court appearance.
In this instance, none is singular because it refers to "no single one."
Compare that to:
I spoke to all five of my teammates, but none of them are able to drive me to practice.
In this usage, none corresponds to "not one of any." |
While you will likely use none is more often than none are in your daily communications, simply keep in mind that sometimes none can take a plural verb.
How to Find the Right Version of None Is or None Are
Even with the guidelines we've shared, we still understand it can be difficult to find the right answer between none is or none are when you aren't sure. In those cases where you might still feel confused, simply follow two basic rules.
1) Ask yourself whether the context seems singular or plural. If it's singular, go with none is, but if it's plural, then use none are.
2) If that rule doesn't help, then default to none is. That usage is more accepted, and it tends to be right more often than not when both versions sound correct to you. |
All in all, this represents a finer point of American grammar. So, if you struggle to get it right with every reference, there's little cause for concern. You'll get better with practice, and it isn't the sort of thing most others are likely to catch or correct very often.
|
View and comment on this
article on our website.
|
|
|
|
 |
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
by Lester Kaufman and Jane Straus |
The Authority on English Grammar! Twelfth Edition Now Available
An indispensable tool for busy professionals, teachers, students, homeschool families, editors, writers, and proofreaders.
Available in print AND as an e-Book! Over 2,000 copies are purchased every month!
To order the book, simply click the link to order the book from the GrammarBook.com website.
|
Free BONUS Quiz for You!
[[firstname]], because you are a subscriber to the newsletter, you get access to one of the Subscribers-Only Quizzes. Click here to take an Irregular Verbs Quiz and get your scores and explanations instantly!
We will be adding many more quizzes this year to our already substantial list of them. If you have suggestions for topics we have not yet covered, please send us a message at help@grammarbook.com.
|
Hundreds of Additional Quizzes
at Your Fingertips
Subscribe now to receive hundreds of additional English usage quizzes not found anywhere else!
Teachers and Employers
Save hours of valuable time! You may assign quizzes to your students and employees and have their scores tallied, organized, and reported to you! Let GrammarBook.com take the hassle out of teaching English!
"Fun to test my skills."
"The explanations really help ... thanks!"
"I can select the quizzes to assign to my students, and then the results are reported to me automatically!"
If you think you have found an error in a quiz, please email us at help@grammarbook.com
|
Wordplay
|
 |
English in a Snap:
68 One-Minute English Usage Videos FREE |
Learn all about who and whom, affect and effect, subjects and verbs, adjectives and adverbs, commas, semicolons, quotation marks, and much more by just sitting back and enjoying these easy-to-follow lessons. Share them with your colleagues (and boss), children, teachers, and friends as well! Click here to watch.
|
|
