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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Do I use was or were?
"None of the medications were working."
Is that right? Should it be 'was' because of the 'none'?
Thank you!
Is that right? Should it be 'was' because of the 'none'?
Thank you!
Top answer
Old strict grammarians require the singular before 'none', but modern usage uses common sense and hinges the number on how the writer is conceiving the situation: Not one of these is effective. None of all these are effective. "-- Several medications are in the patients' system.
- Old strict grammarians require the singular before 'none', but modern usage uses common sense and hinges the number on how the writer is conceiving the situation: Not one of these is effective.
- None of all these are effective.
- "-- Several medications are in the patients' system.
- "-- One at a time, each medication was tried.
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1 Answers
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Old strict grammarians require the singular before 'none', but modern usage uses common sense and hinges the number on how the writer is conceiving the situation:
Not one of these is effective.
None of all these are effective.
In your case, it seems to me that the situation needs careful examination, because to me, this difference is suggested:
"None of the
Not one of these is effective.
None of all these are effective.
In your case, it seems to me that the situation needs careful examination, because to me, this difference is suggested:
"None of the
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