None Were vs None Was ...
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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.
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.
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