Key Point: Singular or Plural?

None is a flexible word, and whether it’s singular or plural depends on what it’s referring to:

• Singular when emphasizing “not one” or “no amount of a single item.”
• Plural when referring to “not any” of multiple items or a group.

1. None as Singular

When none is used to mean “not one” or “no one,” it’s typically singular. Use it with singular verbs like “is” or “was.”

• Example: “None of the cake was left after the party.” (Not one piece of cake remained.)
• Example: “None of the information is available yet.” (Not a single piece of information is available.)

Hint: Think of none as “not a single one” in these cases.

2. None as Plural

When none refers to “not any” of a larger group, it can take plural verbs like “are” or “were.” This usage is more common in informal English.

• Example: “None of the students were late to class.” (Not any students were late.)
• Example: “None of my friends are coming to the event.” (Not any friends are attending.)

Hint: Here, none acts as “not any,” referring to a plural subject.

Additional Tips: Choosing Singular or Plural

• Context Matters: If none clearly refers to one thing (like “none of the cake”), use a singular verb. If it refers to multiple items (like “none of the students”), a plural verb can be used.
• Consistency: In formal writing, using singular verbs with none is often preferred. However, in everyday spoken English, plural verbs are widely accepted when none means “not any.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Incorrect: “None of the apples is good.”
  • While grammatically correct, this sentence sounds a bit strange because “apples” suggests multiple items.
• Corrected: “None of the apples are good.”
  • This version sounds more natural when talking about multiple apples.

Practice Time!

Let’s practice choosing the correct verb form for none. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. None of the water ___ (was/were) cold enough to drink.
2. None of the team members ___ (was/were) available for the meeting.
3. None of the answers ___ (is/are) correct.
4. None of the cars ___ (was/were) parked in the right spot.

Answers:

1. None of the water was cold enough to drink.
2. None of the team members were available for the meeting.
3. None of the answers are correct.
4. None of the cars were parked in the right spot.