Has/Hava

Question

Hello,         None of us  "has/ have" a pen.Which is right in British English?I have seen people use both.Thanks,Prasanna

Akhil tiwari · Accepted Answer

Singular form is used in a formal style in BrE.

Mister Micawber · Answer

Both are acceptable, Prasanna. Here is the comment from the American Heritage Dictionary (AmE):

Usage Note:
It is widely asserted that none is equivalent to no one, and hence requires a singular verb and singular pronoun: None of the prisoners was given his soup. It is true that none is etymologically derived from the Old English word n, "one," but the word has been used as both a singular and a plural noun from Old English onward. The plural usage appears in the King James Bible as well as the works of John Dryden and Edmund Burke and is widespread in the works of respectable writers today. Of course, the singular usage is perfectly acceptable. The choice between a singular or plural verb depends on the desired effect. Both options are acceptable in this sentence: None of the conspirators has (or have) been brought to trial. When none is modified by almost, however, it is difficult to avoid treating the word as a plural: Almost none of the officials were (not was) interviewed by the committee. None can only be plural in its use in sentences such as None but his most loyal supporters believe (not believes) his story.

And here is the note from the Compact Oxford Dictionary (BrE):

Usage

It is sometimes held that none can only take a singular verb, never a plural verb: none of them is coming tonight rather than none of them are coming tonight . There is little justification, historical or grammatical, for this view. None is descended from Old English nan meaning ‘not one’ and has been used for around a thousand years with both a singular and a plural verb, depending on the context and the emphasis needed

Sarnga1157 · Answer

Thanks a lot Mister Micawber.

Where are you from? And where do you live?

Thanks for all your answers in the forum.

---
Prasanna

Mister Micawber · Answer

The details of my existence are located in my Profile, Prasanna.  Just click on my name to the right of my post.

Mudclay · Answer

it often doesn't matter whether you use a singular or a plural verb — unless something else in the sentence determines its number

i.e none of the engines are working

None of you claims responsibility for this incident?

None of you claim responsibility for this incident?

Rahul2689 · Answer

What I have learnt(we follow BrE) is what follows after NONE i.e None of 'us'.

None can have both plural and singular verb.

None of us have ...should be correct .

None of the students have reported.

None of the luggage has reached here.

Has/Hava

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