none
‘none of’
You use none of in front of a plural noun phrase to make a negative statement about all the things or people in a particular group.
None of these suggestions is very helpful.
None of the others looked at her.
You use none of in front of a noun phrase containing an uncountable noun to make a negative statement about every part of something.
None of the furniture was out of place.
You can use none of in front of a singular or plural pronoun.
None of this seems to have affected him.
We had none of these at home.
Don't use ‘we’ or ‘they’ after none of. Instead you use us or them.
None of us had written our reports.
None of them had learned anything that day.
When you use none of in front of a plural noun or pronoun, you can use either a plural or singular form of a verb after it. The singular form is more formal.
None of his books have been published in England.
None of them is real.
When you use none of in front of an uncountable noun or a singular pronoun, you use a singular form of a verb after it.
None of the wheat was ruined.
Yet none of this has seriously affected business.
used as a pronoun
None can be used on its own as a pronoun.
There were none left.
He asked for some proof. I told him that I had none.
Be careful
You don't usually use any other negative word after none of or none. Don't say, for example, ‘None of them weren’t ready'. Say ‘None of them were ready’. Similarly, don't use ‘none of’ or ‘none’ as the object of a sentence that already has a negative word in it. Don't say, for example, ‘I didn’t want none of them'. Say ‘I didn’t want any of them'.
You don't usually use any other negative word after none of or none. Don't say, for example, ‘None of them weren’t ready'. Say ‘None of them were ready’. Similarly, don't use ‘none of’ or ‘none’ as the object of a sentence that already has a negative word in it. Don't say, for example, ‘I didn’t want none of them'. Say ‘I didn’t want any of them'.
You only use none of or none to talk about a group of three or more things or people. If you want to talk about two things or people, you use neither of or neither.
➜ See neither