NONE

When “none” serves as an adverb (modifying a verb, adjective, adverb, or even a clause), its meaning is “not at all” or “to no extent.” In the role of a pronoun, however, it can signify several different things, all related to its origin as “not one.” But its ancestor, the Old English nan, had both singular and plural inflections, which makes modern usage very interesting.


Though “none” is more of naught than one,
It calls for all to count
The noun to which it points along
And know the right amount.

For those of us nontechnical,
No abacus to fear;
But meanings hypothetical
Are there to make it clear.

“Not one,” “no one,” “no person,” or
“No part of whole or group”
Will tell of subject singular
When “none” it dares to dupe.

But if not any's to take none's place,
It tells of plural count;
And often when a group “none” plays,
“Not any” may stick around.

So, “None of us do work today;
Yet none is drenched in tears.”
“The bosses plan to dock our pay,
But none of us is scared.”

To check if verb should plural be,
Just switch “not any” in.
If singular there you think you see,
Then test the other kin.

Remember, though, that overlap
Is not a seldom fling.
A plural subject is, perhaps,
The stage for singular thing.

So much will spring from what you mean 
And what the context is.
Intention must be clear and clean
For “none” dependencies.
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