NONE WERE vs NONE WAS ...
None is a versatile word - and relies upon the noun (object of the preposition). It can be used with a singular or a plural verb.
- Plural = not any
- Singular = not a single one
- None of the cake was eaten ........................................................... singular
- None of the children were hungry enough to eat the cake .................. plural
However, none of the children was hungry is not incorrect.
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According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage, “Clearly none has been both singular and plural since Old English and still is. The notion that it is singular only is a myth of unknown origin that appears to have arisen in the 19th century. If in context it seems like a singular to you, use a singular verb; if it seems like a plural, use a plural verb. Both are acceptable beyond serious criticism” https://www.merriam-webster.com
- Plural = not any
- Singular = not a single one
- None of the cake was eaten ........................................................... singular
- None of the children were hungry enough to eat the cake .................. plural
However, none of the children was hungry is not incorrect.
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According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage, “Clearly none has been both singular and plural since Old English and still is. The notion that it is singular only is a myth of unknown origin that appears to have arisen in the 19th century. If in context it seems like a singular to you, use a singular verb; if it seems like a plural, use a plural verb. Both are acceptable beyond serious criticism” https://www.merriam-webster.com
