2007-04-04 13:15:18 · 21 answers · asked by Kaaron C 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
It could be either was or were, depending on context.
none means 1) No one, and takes a singular verb, or 2) Not any persons or things, and takes a plural verb.
None of the members is going.
None were left when I came.
Both come from the reference Speaker cited:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/none
He just didn't look far enough. Go to that site and look at item 1 and item 4.
Just one of the little odd things in English.
ADDED: Re: Answer below - if the rules have relaxed, it's been for quite a while. Use of 'none' as a plural is attested to at least year 888.
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-non2.htm
http://www.grammarmudge.cityslide.com/articles/article/1026513/9903.htm
2007-04-04 15:43:55 · answer #1 · answered by dollhaus 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i'll give you an explanation then i'll tell you which is correct. if you learned you grammar well, you'ld have learnt three types of pronouns--singular, plural, and the "can be either singular or plural group." the singular pronouns are each, either, neither, one, anyone, anybody, no one, nobody, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody. the plural pronouns are both, few, several, many. and the either-or pronouns are some, any, NONE, all, most. how do you differentiate whether the verb is plural or singular? if it refers to more than one item/individual, it is plural. if it refers to one item as a whole, it is singular. here are some examples:
singular--some of the pudding was melted. any extra bread was given to the poor. none of the cake was eaten. all of the jacket was smudged. most of the bus was rusted.
plural--some of the umbrellas were broken. any extra clothes were given to the poor. none of the pencils were used. all of the socks were washed. most of the letters were opened yesterday.
so, none of them were or was? them is plural of more than one person. thus, the answer simply is WERE. eg, none of them were (not was) present in yesterday's talk. none of them are (not is) going to the park today. now do you understand? i surely hope so because it is actually fun when you get the hang of it!!! :D study and practice hard!
2007-04-04 16:20:31 · answer #2 · answered by wat_more_can_i_say? 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The rules regarding subject-verb agreement have relaxed. Used to be "none was," period. Now it depends on the context:
None of them were going to the concert.
None of them was a very good answer.
2007-04-04 21:43:14 · answer #3 · answered by hebejebe54 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
None of them were
2007-04-04 13:17:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
It should be 'none of them was', because 'none' means 'not one'. But we usually say 'none of them were' because that's just the way people speak.
2007-04-04 13:31:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
The correct answer is "none of them were". I am an English major so feel confident with my answer. Take care.
2007-04-04 15:13:20 · answer #6 · answered by carly071 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
None of them were? I believe.
2007-04-04 13:17:51 · answer #7 · answered by lvliss.lvlanda 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
"None of them were"
A good rule for determining the specific word to use is to ignore any words between the subject and the verb. You would say "none were," therefore, it should not change when you insert the words "of them."
2007-04-04 13:19:17 · answer #8 · answered by Joy M 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i think "none of them were" is correct, but it usually depends what you are talking about, "was" would most likely be used if you said "not one of them was" (singular instead of a general subject)...
2007-04-08 12:20:43 · answer #9 · answered by rawr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
none of them were
2007-04-04 13:17:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋