When none is followed by a mass noun a noun that cannot be counted or made plural it takes a singular verb. When you use none of with an uncountable noun, the verb is in the singular none of the work was done. It is a mistake to suppose that the pronoun none is singular only and must at all costs be followed by singular verbs or. A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. Todays topic is collective nouns, nouns that describe a group, such as family, orchestra, and board. It has a plural sense not any as well as a singular sense not a single one. Do we use a plural or a singular verb after none of the books. When either word is used as a pronoun and as the subject of a sentence or clauseand its the only subjectit takes a singular verb. If the subject is a mass uncountable noun, and therefore singular, then the singular form of the verb. This is what comes from looking in dictionaries and usage books for grammar information. It comes from old english nan, which is equivalent to ne not and an one.
Jun 14, 2009 in a sentence like none were missing, there is an implicit noun that answers the question, none of what. However, in case of a plural noun, vegetables, you can use either a plural verb or a singular verb. Sep 02, 2008 todays topic is collective nouns, nouns that describe a group, such as family, orchestra, and board. When using a plural noun, these two articles are unnecessary. That property is called grammatical number or simply number outside the world of english grammar or any grammar. Each student has been given his or her own email address. If you cant tell from the context, the usual default is to use a plural. When you use none of with a plural noun or pronoun, or a singular noun referring to a group of people or things, you can use either a singular or a plural verb. Picture books for teaching regular plural nouns these books contain multiple examples of regular plural nouns and opportunities for children to practise to stay updated on the latest and greatest picture. It can modify either plural count nouns or singular mass nouns, which means that any singular noun modified by any is automatically interpreted as a mass noun. If the object of the preposition is singular, use a singular verb. Grammar girl wasnt very helpful with these subjectcomplement agreement sentences. The indefinite articles a and an are used to modify singular nouns.
None of the ballplayers were on the team bus after the game. No, none and none of english grammar today a reference to written and spoken. No one, nobody, nothing, nowhere english grammar today. It can also refer in general to all the members of a class or a group.
None of us are getting it right if none is used as not any then it means just one, so it would be singular. Learn english with lets talk free english lessons recommended for you 11. When either word is used as a pronoun and as the subject of a. Every can be followed by a plural noun when there is a number before that noun. Picture books for teaching regular plural nouns book share time. Could you give me a logical explanation why it is so.
Either and neither, singular or plural the editors blog. The truth is that none can be singular or plural, but many people believe. However, it is just as likely to mean not any, implying a plural. I nearly forgot about this zombie rule in english until this question cropped up. Brian klems is the former senior online editor of writers digest, and author of oh boy, youre having a girl adams media. With words that indicate portionssome, all, none, percent, fraction, part, majority, remainder, and so forth look at the noun in your of phrase object of the preposition to determine whether to use a singular or plural verb. The use of any in front of a singular noun talks about each thing or person of a particular type. The use of any in front of a plural noun talks about all things or people of. The use of his or her sometimes sounds slightly formal and it is more common to use the plural pronoun their. The ap stylebook, the chicago manual of style, garners modern english. Guestwriter bonnie trenga writes, there are around 200 collective nouns in the english language 1.
However, in case of a plural noun, vegetables, you can use either a plural verb or a singular verb as follows. When all is used with a plural noun, it means every, and the verb agrees all the countries were represented at the games when all is used with a singular noun, with or without of, it means entire. Note that these pronouns can be singular or plural. The pronoun she is singular, a third person singular pronoun, used as a subject. The general rule to follow is that when the noun that follows all or none is singular, you. This particular reference sheds some light on the use of none as plural or singular. It can modify either plural count nouns or singular mass nouns. In addition, i would like to know the case of every type of. The word none can be either singular or plural, but its more likely to be plural. None can take either a singular or plural verb a common misconception is that none is always singular because it is short for no one. Nov 18, 2006 but i hear none used in the plural so ofteneven by fine writersthat sometimes i wonder. This indefinite pronoun may take either a singular or a plural verb.
If that noun is plural, it is up to the writer and the sense of the sentence to determine whether none takes a singular or a plural verb. In this particular sentence, since workforce is a singular noun with plural connotations, like jury, company, orchestra, community, etc. Singular nouns go with singular verbs while plural nouns go with plural verbs. When you use none of with a plural noun or pronoun, or a. Should i use a plural or a singular verb after none of. If you refers to multiple people, the verb would be plural. Should i use a plural or a singular verb after none of, any. King alfred the great, in fact, used nan as a plural as far back as a.
With words that indicate portionssome, all, none, percent, fraction, part, majority, remainder, and so forth look at the noun in your of phrase object of the preposition to. At all times since the reign of king alfred the choice of plural or singular. When none is the subject, the verb is either singular or plural depending on what it is referring to. Aug 10, 2010 in this particular sentence, since workforce is a singular noun with plural connotations, like jury, company, orchestra, community, etc. Picture books for teaching regular plural nouns book. These are singular when they refer to something singular i. If the subject is a plural count noun, then the plural form of the verb is used. Actually, none of us is plural as typically its the equivalent of saying we which is plural. Perfect for differentiating to meet each students needs, this collection features resources on singular and plural nouns for students learning at and above grade level. Also, our rule 1 of writing numbers says, spell out all numbers beginning a sentence.
Most nouns take s at the end of their singular forms. Sep 01, 2018 i nearly forgot about this zombie rule in english until this question cropped up. The plural third person pronoun is they, used as a subject. No one, nobody, nothing, nowhere english grammar today a reference to written and spoken english grammar and usage cambridge dictionary. Singular means there is one, plural means there is more than one. When none is followed by of, look at the noun in your of phrase object of the. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing. Picture books for teaching regular plural nouns these books contain multiple examples of regular plural nouns and opportunities for children to practise to stay updated on the latest and greatest picture books for speech and language development, subscribe to our email newsletter.
Any english grammar today a reference to written and spoken english grammar and usage cambridge dictionary. The girls or their father collects the newspapers every morning. Each vs every usage and differences english grammar lesson duration. When none means roughly not any or your sentence has a sense of plurality, none. None is nearly always plural meaning not any except when something else in the sentence makes us regard it as a. It also takes a singular verb when its followed by a mass noun, like water. Subject and verb agreement with collective nouns grammar. Dont pay any attention to the myth that none always requires a singular verb. The answer lies in grammar rules on concord or subjectverb agreement. As we mentioned in our response to dimitri dated september 14, 2011, the ap stylebooks entry says, none it usually means no single one. A singular noun is a word for one person, place, or thing. Two singular nouns or pronouns separated by either or or neither nor take a singular verb. The concept of each singular noun contrasted with all plural nouns is not relevant here any can refer to one or to all, to several or to some part of.
Each is used in front of a singular noun and is followed by a singular verb each student has been given his or her own email address. Sometimes they take a singular verb, but other times they take a plural verb. Both none and any can be either singular or plural, depending upon the context. When a noun indicates one only, it is a singular noun. The difference between singular and plural nouns is easy to spot. Notice that none of these nouns start with a capital letter. When one of the words is used to modify the single subject of a sentence, it takes.
In the following sentence, a plural noun came after each of. Number the word number is singular when it refers to an arithmetical value expressed by a word or symbol. Apple is a singular item, so youd use the singular verb was. Mignon fogarty is grammar girl and the founder of quick and dirty tips. The only time that you capitalize a common noun is at the beginning of a sentence or in a title. Not one of the attorneys was available for comment. Neither of the attorneys waswere available for comment. But when using this structure, one of my friends, we have friends plural and is singular to match with the word one. A good rule of thumb is to treat most indefinite pronouns as singular and try to remember the few exceptions. Mar 28, 20 he was apparently not so familiar with the grammar of old english, where nan was both singular and plural. If none is used as not one then what youre actually saying is many because one is sigular therefore the opposite of one being not one would be plural. Also use a singular verb with none when none refers back to a mass noun, like. Jul 21, 2016 each vs every usage and differences english grammar lesson duration. Indefinite pronouns can take a singular or plural verb number follows the same ruling used with the indefinite pronouns all, any, more, most, and some.
None can be singular or plural yet many people believe it can only be singular. The idea of singular and plural is about a property of nouns. Plural nouns can take either a definite article or no article at all. Many of cootes contemporaries knew that none was both singular and plural, and most writers on usage to this day know it, but the notion of its unalterable. Sep 04, 20 actually, none of us is plural as typically its the equivalent of saying we which is plural. Seeing that nouns are items, there can be one or more and this means that nouns are either singular or plural. Singular and plural nouns grade 1 collection printable. At its most basic level, none means not one of something. If it is strictly a singular word, we need one for the plural, maybe a contraction of not and any, something like nany. A common misconception is that none is always singular because it is short for no one. But on the other hand none by itself can be plural or singular depending on the context. But i hear none used in the plural so ofteneven by fine writersthat sometimes i wonder. The indefinite pronoun none can be either singular or plural, depending on its context.
Each student has been given their own email address. Do we use a plural or a singular verb after none of the. Each is used in front of a singular noun and is followed by a singular verb. When you use none of with an uncountable noun, the verb is in the singular. This posting and the three that follow appeared on the grammar exchange newsgroup earlier this year.
As you say, the speaker is not thinking of a particular problem, but of one or another, or perhaps more than one. Indeed, none of his novels is well shaped or well written. Guestwriter bonnie trenga writes, there are around 200 collective nouns in. But they can also be conjunctions correlative, adjectives, determiners, and even adverbs.
When none means roughly not one or no single one, its followed by a singular verb. No, none and none of english grammar today cambridge. None can be a singular pronoun if its referring to not one or no part, but it also can be plural when referring to not any. What kind of noun can come after it, singular or plural or even both. If that noun is singular, none takes a singular verb.