Continuing this discussion.

As per the following link on Beatthegmat:

http://www.beatthegmat.com/three-horsem ... tml#112587

It mentions that latest Manahattan SC guide 3rd edition(page#48) says that None of <plural> can take either a singular or plural verb.

But the above discussion says that None follows SANAM rule.

I don't have the 3rd edition with me...I have the older version....additionally I have recently ordered the 4th edition online....It will be delivered a week's time.

Meanwhile can someone please confirm to me what is indeed the case ?

Our current strategy guide says that for SANAM pronouns (Some, Any, None, All, More/Most), look at the object of the preposition to determine the number of the subject.

Examples:
None of the money was stolen from my wallet.
None of the documents were stolen from the bank.

The exception mentioned is: "(Technically, none of + plural noun can take either a singular or a plural verb form.)"

No examples are given in the book, so I just made some up. I can't promise that they are correct, but they sound reasonable to me.

None of the tourists have taken pictures. (of plural - plural verb)
None of us sings well enough to perform in public. (of plural -singular verb)
None of the listeners seem to mind our singing, though. (of plural - plural verb)
None of these sentences is a wonderful example! (of plural -singular verb)

As a native English speaker, I'm noticing that the mental image conjured by these sentences is determined by the choice of verb number.

When the verb is singular, I imagine the object of the preposition as individuals: Individually, not one person among us sings well enough... Individually, each sentence is not a wonderful example.

When the verb is plural, I imagine the object of the preposition as a collection of many things: All the listeners are fine with our singing...All of the tourists have refrained from taking pictures.

It's truly a fine distinction, and one not likely to be tested by the GMAT. After all, if all of the tourists have refrained from taking pictures, then isn't it also true that each tourist individually refrained from taking pictures? Such a minor difference. The GMAT might take advantage of the freedom to use either a plural or singular verb after none of + plural noun, but there's NO WAY you will ever have to make a judgement call about it.

_________________
Emily Sledge
Instructor
ManhattanGMAT

Thanks Emily.

Wow. what an extensive conversation. I'm sure this issue won't go away. The good thing is that the fine distinctions here will not be tested on the GMAT!

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Ben Ku
Instructor
ManhattanGMAT

Hi guys,

Just found this on the net. Hope it helps.

http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-non2.htm

Cheers.

Ketan

Thanks for the link, Ketan.

_________________
Emily Sledge
Instructor
ManhattanGMAT