Is ‘None’ Singular or Plural? How to Use the Word ‘None’

The indefinite pronoun “none” means "not one." The word "none" comes from the Old English “nān,” which also means “not one.” The word “none” can be used as an adverb to mean “not at all” or “to no extent.” However, it's most commonly used as an indefinite pronoun, meaning “no one,” “not any,” “no part,” or “nothing.”

English language grammarians debate whether “none” is singular or plural, but the simple answer is that it can be both. This is because “none” can mean both "not one" and "not any," and depending on the context of the sentence, a singular or plural verb might be a more natural fit. It can also depend on the intention of the speaker. If the speaker is referring to a singular object, then “none” takes a singular verb. If the speaker is referring to several objects in a sentence, then “none” takes a plural verb.

As a simple rule, if “none” can be replaced with “not any” in a sentence, it will more likely take a plural verb. Conversely, if the speaker of the sentence could replace “none” with “not one” or “nothing,” a singular verb is appropriate.

Whether “none” can be singular or plural largely depends on the context of the sentence and the intention of the speaker.

• Plural: For example, "None of the movies are worth watching." When the object of a sentence or prepositional phrase is a plural noun (in this case “movies”), “none” is used with the plural verb “are.”
• Singular: For example, "None of your advice is helpful." In this sentence, “advice” operates as a singular mass noun, and “none” takes the singular verb “is.”

Consider some more examples of the American English usage of the word “none.”

1. 1. Plural pronoun: "None of my friends are going to the fair." In this sentence, “none” could be substituted with “not any” and represents the collective noun “friends.” As such, “none” takes the plural verb “are.”
2. 2. Singular pronoun: "She ate it all, and now none is left." In this sentence, “none” could be substituted with “nothing.” As such, it takes the singular verb “is.”
3. 3. Adverb: "We'll take it while he's not looking, and he'll be none the wiser." In this sentence, “none” is modifying the verb “be” and effectively means “not at all.”

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