Use of None/No (Sentence-Verb agreement)

Question

None  can take either a singular or plural verb, depending on the noun which follows it.

Rule 1:
   None+ of the + non-count noun + singular  verb 
example:  None  of the counterfeit  money   has  been found.

Rule 2:
   None + of the + plural count noun + plural verb  
Example:  None  of the  students   have  finished the exam yet.

No  can take either a singular or plural verb, depending on the noun which follows it.

Rule 1: 
     No+ ( non-count noun/singular noun) + singular verb  
Example: No  example   is  relevant to this case.

Rule 2: 
     No + plural noun + plural verb  
Example: No  examples   are  relevant to this case.

Source: Cliffs TOEFL

mikemcgarry · Answer

Dear nahid78 , Yes, quite right. :-)

This is a special case of the more general topic of indefinite pronouns and SVA. See the following blog that gives a detailed discussion. https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/gmat-sente ... agreement/ Mike :-)

EducationAisle · Answer

This is slightly debatable. #27, OG13:

None of the attempts to specify the causes of crime explains why most of the people exposed to the alleged causes do not commit crimes and, conversely, why so many of those not so exposed have.

mikemcgarry · Answer

Yes, that's quite true! Excellent observation! The word " none " etymologically derives from " no one ." Because " no one " is singular, sometimes " none " is construed to be singular. In practice, the use is subtle. If we are indicating something about a group of people, say several students taking a test, then statement " none of the students ____ finished the exam yet " is essentially a group statement. All of the students are involved in the group action of taking the test, and the entire group is in an unfinished state. Thus, in this context, " none " is construed as plural, and take the plural verb. " None of the students have finished the exam yet ." By contrast, in the OG statement, we are using " none " more in its etymological sense of " no one " or " not one ." There is no "cooperation" or "group action" among the various attempts. Each attempt to explain is an unique endeavor. Thus, the statement is not a statement primarily about the "group" of these attempts. Instead, we are saying that no single attempt was able to explain something. With this in mind, the singular reading is chosen, with the singular verb. " None of the attempts to specify the causes of crime explains why . . . " As always, logic is more important that grammar. Logic always trumps grammar. Thus, the attempt here to formulate a simple one-size-fits-all grammar rule founders on the shoals of logic. Does all this make sense? Mike :-)

VerbalBot · Answer

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Use of None/No (Sentence-Verb agreement)

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