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Conatus Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Is vs Are Question
Hello
Please may I ask that someone clarify this perplexing problem I'm having with the use of is or are?
I understand the principal of singular or plural, however, I have come across sentences that seem to contradict this rule.
I was playing a game the other day (typical shoot-em up) and upon selecting a weapon I was met with the following sentence:
"None of your weapons is attached with a silencer."
My confusion is thus: weapons = plural so does that render this sentence gramatically incorrect or does there exist one of those annoying exceptions to the rule that I'm missing?
Thanks in advance...
Please may I ask that someone clarify this perplexing problem I'm having with the use of is or are?
I understand the principal of singular or plural, however, I have come across sentences that seem to contradict this rule.
I was playing a game the other day (typical shoot-em up) and upon selecting a weapon I was met with the following sentence:
"None of your weapons is attached with a silencer."
My confusion is thus: weapons = plural so does that render this sentence gramatically incorrect or does there exist one of those annoying exceptions to the rule that I'm missing?
Thanks in advance...
Top answer
People often the word "none" in a plural sense, but it is actually a contraction of "not one". "
- People often the word "none" in a plural sense, but it is actually a contraction of "not one".
- "
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5 Answers
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People often the word "none" in a plural sense, but it is actually a contraction of "not one". So you could read it as "Not one of your weapons is attached with a silencer."
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The following explanation is quoted from CalifJim;
In English grammar it is well known that a singular subject (one person or thing) takes a singular verb (is, was, etc.). One child was sick with the flu. One of the children was sick with the flu.
A plural subject (more than one person or thing) takes a plural verb. Two of the children were sick wi
In English grammar it is well known that a singular subject (one person or thing) takes a singular verb (is, was, etc.). One child was sick with the flu. One of the children was sick with the flu.
A plural subject (more than one person or thing) takes a plural verb. Two of the children were sick wi
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sheepincrisisPeople often the word "none" in a plural sense, but it is actually a contraction of "not one". So you could read it as "Not one of your weapons is attached with a silencer."Excellent - that really helps
Many thanks the responses
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"None of your weapons is attached with a silencer."
That sounds unnatural to me. I'd say, "None of your weapons has a silencer (attached)".
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By the way, that sentence is characteristic of the kind of illiterate writing you too often see in games. They spend a zillion dollars on coding and not two cents on copyediting. A weapon cannot be attached with a silencer. It is fitted with one, or it has one attached. Jeeze Alou.
"None" is formally singular, but it is often treated as plural. Many people would see it as you do and let t
"None" is formally singular, but it is often treated as plural. Many people would see it as you do and let t
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