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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
None of the children is (or are) in the field.
A quick question (from a English verbal test book)
Which of the following sentences is correct:
1) None of the children is in the field.
2) None of the children are in the field.
I felt that 2) was correct, but the answer book said 1), hence I am a bit of unsure now. Is 'none' a singular or plural noun? I checked the web on this and found many conflicting arguments from various sources and am not sure which one to trust. If you came across this question in a real test, which one would you choose?
Many thanks
DH
Which of the following sentences is correct:
1) None of the children is in the field.
2) None of the children are in the field.
I felt that 2) was correct, but the answer book said 1), hence I am a bit of unsure now. Is 'none' a singular or plural noun? I checked the web on this and found many conflicting arguments from various sources and am not sure which one to trust. If you came across this question in a real test, which one would you choose?
Many thanks
DH
Top answer
[nq:1]A quick question (from a English verbal test book) Which of the following sentences is correct: 1) None of the ... one to trust. If you came across this question in a real test,which one would you choose?
- [nq:1]A quick question (from a English verbal test book) Which of the following sentences is correct: 1) None of the ...
- one to trust.
- If you came across this question in a real test,which one would you choose?
- Many thanks DH[/nq] No 1 is correct because "not one" (ie none) is simply the negation of "one", rather than "more than one".
- Subject and verb must agree and since the subject is deemed singular, the singular verb is correct.
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28 Answers
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[nq:1]A quick question (from a English verbal test book) Which of the following sentences is correct: 1) None of the ... one to trust. If you came across this question in a real test,which one would you choose? Many thanks DH[/nq]
No 1 is correct because "not one" (ie none) is simply the negation of "one", rather than "more than one". Subject and verb must agree and since the subject is deemed
No 1 is correct because "not one" (ie none) is simply the negation of "one", rather than "more than one". Subject and verb must agree and since the subject is deemed
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I don't think the matter is that easily solved. Functionally, No. 1 is "correct" because whoever developed the question decided that no.
1 is the answer But in real life, either a singular or a pluralverb with "none" can be idiomatic in a given context, and sometimes both are, so it's not surprising that the OP has encountered arguments on both sides. The AUE FAQ has a short note on this at ,
1 is the answer But in real life, either a singular or a pluralverb with "none" can be idiomatic in a given context, and sometimes both are, so it's not surprising that the OP has encountered arguments on both sides. The AUE FAQ has a short note on this at ,
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[nq:1]I don't think the matter is that easily solved.[/nq]
Yes, it is. There is no reason to complicate the issue by defending the illiterate, or by talking down to children as though they were incapable of grammar.
"With my cross-bow
I shot the Albatross."
Yes, it is. There is no reason to complicate the issue by defending the illiterate, or by talking down to children as though they were incapable of grammar.
"With my cross-bow
I shot the Albatross."
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[nq:1]A quick question (from a English verbal test book) Which of the following sentences is correct: 1) None of the ... to trust. If you came across this question in a real test, which one would you choose? Many thanks DH[/nq]
In the USA:
As you seem to have noticed, there are times when one must cater to the teacher and give the answer that is wanted, even if it is not the right answer.
In the USA:
As you seem to have noticed, there are times when one must cater to the teacher and give the answer that is wanted, even if it is not the right answer.
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[nq:2]I don't think the matter is that easily solved.[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes, it is. There is no reason to complicate the issue by defending the illiterate, or by talking down to children as though they were incapable of grammar.[/nq]
If you think there's a rule of English usage (usage, not grammar) requiring a singular verb after "none" in all contexts (which I'm guessing is the basis for your in
[nq:1]Yes, it is. There is no reason to complicate the issue by defending the illiterate, or by talking down to children as though they were incapable of grammar.[/nq]
If you think there's a rule of English usage (usage, not grammar) requiring a singular verb after "none" in all contexts (which I'm guessing is the basis for your in
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[nq:2]bit of on this sure which No 1 is correct ... the subject is deemed singular, the singular verb is correct.[/nq]
[nq:1]I don't think the matter is that easily solved. Functionally, No. 1 is "correct" because whoever developed the question decided ... "none" is preferable (IMO) in the test question and in most though hardly all other contexts. Liebs[/nq]
What you say is perfectly sens
[nq:1]I don't think the matter is that easily solved. Functionally, No. 1 is "correct" because whoever developed the question decided ... "none" is preferable (IMO) in the test question and in most though hardly all other contexts. Liebs[/nq]
What you say is perfectly sens
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[nq:2]A quick question (from a English verbal test book) Which ... a real test,which one would you choose? Many thanks DH[/nq]
[nq:1]In the USA: As you seem to have noticed, there are times when one must cater to the teacher and ... army (that include more than one person) so I don't know what they would use with "none of the pudding".[/nq]
Here "none" is really "no part" (rather than not
[nq:1]In the USA: As you seem to have noticed, there are times when one must cater to the teacher and ... army (that include more than one person) so I don't know what they would use with "none of the pudding".[/nq]
Here "none" is really "no part" (rather than not
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[nq:2]Yes, it is. There is no reason to complicate the ... down to children as though they were incapable of grammar.[/nq]
[nq:1]Do you have anything more to justify your comments than the fact that you just know you are right? And ... with this sort of hostility when I was only trying to be helpful? This used to be a civilized newsgroup.[/nq]
I believe it still is. That one person
[nq:1]Do you have anything more to justify your comments than the fact that you just know you are right? And ... with this sort of hostility when I was only trying to be helpful? This used to be a civilized newsgroup.[/nq]
I believe it still is. That one person
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[nq:1]A more curious one id the old canard: One in five of the respondents is dissatisfied. It's implicit that "one in five" is more than one respondent, though this is unclear. So the verb "is" is probably wrong, though it sounds curious to say so.[/nq]
As it happens, a variant of your example sentence, involving "One in three German drivers," roiled AUE a few years back. If you search for th
As it happens, a variant of your example sentence, involving "One in three German drivers," roiled AUE a few years back. If you search for th
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[nq:2]A more curious one id the old canard: One in ... "is" is probably wrong, though itsounds curious to say so.[/nq]
[nq:1]As it happens, a variant of your example sentence, involving "One in three German drivers," roiled AUE a few years ... an atheist. Amazing how hot under the collar people can get over something as inconsequential as language usage. Liebs[/nq]
Indeed, but if it didn't
[nq:1]As it happens, a variant of your example sentence, involving "One in three German drivers," roiled AUE a few years ... an atheist. Amazing how hot under the collar people can get over something as inconsequential as language usage. Liebs[/nq]
Indeed, but if it didn't
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