none

Question

Hi,
Even I've found "none" in many texts and figured up its meaning in context, but I think, I've never used it by myself.

None of his friends live nearby.
I would say
He hasn't any friend living nearby. OR He has no friends living nearby.

None of the plates were broken.
I'd say
There wasn't any plate broken.

Can you recommend some kind of practice / exercises that could help me to introduce "none" in my speaking?

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Here's a dumb idea: Google "each," and practice substituting "none" in the sentence you find.

Watch out for subject-verb agreement. "Each" is singular and "none" is plural. Go figure!

Each of the plates was broken. Each of his friends lives nearby.

Cool Breeze · Answer

Avangi "Each" is singular and "none" is plural.

There are other opinions, Avangi. This quotation is from an American dictionary:

—Usage.Since NONE has the meanings “not one” and “not any,” some insist that it always be treated as a singular and be followed by a singular verb: The rescue party searched for survivors, but none was found. However, NONE has been used with both singular and plural verbs since the 9th century. When the sense is “not any persons or things” (as in the example above), the plural is more common: … none were found. Only when NONE is clearly intended to mean “not one” or “not any” is it followed by a singular verb: Of all my articles, none has received more acclaim than my latest one.

Avangi · Answer

Sad but true.

- A.

CalifJim · Answer

ahuramazdaEven though I've found "none" in many texts and figured out its meaning in context, ~~but~~ I don't think, I've ever used it by myself. ... practice / exercises ...

How shocking!

Make sentences from the following so that they begin with "None". The first one is done for you as a guide.

plates were broken > None of the plates were/was broken. (Say the whole sentence both ways for practice.)
seats were available
shirts are for sale
students are ready
children were busy
rooms have been cleaned
jackets were torn

Make three sentences from the following as shown, using some, all, and none.

packages — arrived on time >
......................Some of the packages arrived on time.
......................All of the packages arrived on time.
......................None of the packages arrived on time.

clothes — damaged in transit
cars — have a radio
faucets — need to be fixed
patients — have recovered
gardens — are beautiful
programs — were interesting
shoes — are worn out
furniture — is new
equipment — was expensive
men — knew how to play chess
books — fell on the floor
bottles — contain poison
women — talked about fashion

CJ

Ahuramazda · Answer

None of the seats was/(were?) available. /INSTEAD OF/ There was no seat available.
None of the shirts is/(are?) for sale. /INSTEAD OF/ Any of the shirts isn't for sale. OR The shirts aren't for sale.
None of the students is/(are?) ready. /INSTEAD OF/ There isn't any studet ready.
None of the children was/(were?) busy. /INSTEAD OF/ No child was busy.
None of the rooms has been /(have been?) cleaned. /I'VE GOT IT

/
None of the jackets was / (were?) torn.

Some of the clothes were damaged in transit. /OR/ Some clothes were damaged in transit.
All of the clothes were damaged in transit. /OR/ All (my, your...) clothes were damaged in transit.
None of the clothes were damaged in transit.

Some of the cars have a radio. /OR/ Some cars have a radio.
All of the cars have a radio. /OR/ All cars have a radio.
None of the cars have a radio.

Some of the faucets need to be fixed. /OR/ Some faucets need fixing.
All of the faucets need to be fixed. /OR/ All (these/those...) faucets need fixing.
None of the faucets need to be fixed.

Some of the patients have recovered. /OR/ Some patients have recovered.
All of the patients have recovered. /OR/ All patients have recovered.
None of hte patients have recovered.

Some of the gardens are beautiful. /OR/ Some gardens are beautiful. (in general)
All of the gardens are beautiful. /OR/ All (that..) gardens are beautiful. (Not really, some of them aren't beautiful.)
None of the gardens are beautiful.

Some of the programs were interesting. /OR/ Some programs were interesting.
All of the programs were interesting. /OR/ All (that...) programs were interesting.
None of the programs were intersting.

Some of the shoes are worn out. /OR/ Some shoes are worn out.
All of the shoes are worn out. /OR/ All that shoes are worn out.
None of the shoes are worn out.

(furniture - uncountable)
Some of the furniture is new.
All of the furniture is new.
None of the furniture is new.

(equipment - uncountable)
Some of the equipment was expensive.
All of the equipment was expensive.
None of the equipment was expensive.

(man - men)
Some of the men knew how to play chess.
All of the men knew how to play chess.
None of the men knew how to play chess.

Some of the books fell on the floor.
All of the books fell on the floor.
None of the books fell on the floor.

Some of the bottles contain poison.
All of the bottles contain poison.
None of the bottles contain poison.

(woman - women)
Some of the women talked about fashion.
All of the women talked about fashion.
None of the women talked about fashion.

===

I've also figured out the connection between such/some/all/no/none etc.
Even though I've clarified this subject, I have to figure out some more grammar and vocabulary topics.

===
Thank you all for support.

Umka · Answer

- How many people live on Mars?
- None.

Avangi · Answer

Don't be too sure.<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/11.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/11.gif' alt='Emotion: cool'/>

CalifJim · Answer

AvangiDon't be too sure.

Don't tell me you're claiming Martian citizenship now, Avangi!!!

(I thought all of them were in the U.S. Congress!)

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

ahuramazdaThank you all for support.

You're welcome.

Note that I didn't mean for you to write all that.

Those were supposed to be a speaking exercise. I intended that you would say them as a fluency and comprehension drill. Some of the ... / All of the ... / None of the ....

CJ

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