You are here:
General Writing and Grammar Help/"Is" or "are"
Advertisement
Question
Came across this quote recently...
None of Us is As Smart as All of Us
is the usage correct? Isn't it supposed to be
None of Us are As Smart as All of Us ??
Dear Dinkar:
The subject of the sentence is the singular pronoun "none." "None" means "not one," which is singular, not plural. The prepositional phrase "of us" modifies the subject "none," but the object of the preposition "us" does NOT affect the singular status of the subject "none."
This usage is correct. Drop the two prepositional phrases and you'll see the picture: None is as smart as all.
Ted Nesbitt
- Ask a Question
Questioner's Rating
| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Good knowledge... and very quick in his response. Thanks a lot. | ||
Related Articles
- Simple Sentences - An English Grammar - W. M. Baskervill
- object of a preposition - definition and examples of object of a preposition
- Keeping the Harmony: Subject-Verb Agreement - Grammar and Style
- Prepositions - An English Grammar - W. M. Baskervill
- prepositional phrase - definition and examples of prepositional phrases in English - links to exercises
General Writing and Grammar Help
Answers by Expert:
Ted Nesbitt
Expertise
I am the bibliographic instruction and reference librarian at a public college. Some members of the English department recommend me to their students. I offer assistance in grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and paragraph development. My master`s thesis concerns William Faulkner`s tragic novels. I formerly taught advanced placement English at two schools in the Philadelphia area.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.