On 15/10/13 05:19, Jonathan Leech-Pepin wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> On Oct 14, 2013 10:43 AM, "James Harkins" <jamshark70@gmail.com 
> <mailto:jamshark70@gmail.com>> wrote:
> >
> > R. Michael Weylandt <michael.weylandt <at> gmail.com 
> <http://gmail.com>> <michael.weylandt <at>
> > gmail.com <http://gmail.com>> writes:
> >
> > > On Oct 10, 2013, at 11:50, François Pinard <pinard <at> 
> iro.umontreal.ca <http://iro.umontreal.ca>>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > > P.S. What is proper English: "nobody remember" or "nobody 
> remembers"?
> > > >
> > >
> > > Remembers. 'Nobody' counts as singular, as does 'no one'. English 
> isn't
> > totally consistent on this
> > > matter, however, as 'none' takes a plural verb.
> > >
> > > No one is brave enough to skip the meeting, even though none of 
> the bosses
> > are going to attend.
> >
> > Actually, I think the latter clause is incorrect usage. The verb's 
> subject is
> > "none," not "bosses"; since the subject is singular, the verb form 
> should be
> > singular as well. It "feels wrong" to have a singular verb 
> immediately after a
> > plural noun, but that noun properly belongs to the preposition, not 
> the verb.
> >
> > I'm voting for "none of the bosses is going to attend."
>
> None is a bit of an odd case, since it reflects the plurality of the 
> associated noun.
>
> None of the group is going...
> None of the groups are going...
> None of the bosses are going to attend.
>
> Some, most, all also follow that pattern:
> All of the group is...
> All of the bosses are...
>
> Group allows for both the plural and similar case since even one group 
> still has multiple members (at least it implies such).
>
> Jon
>
> > hjh
> >
> >
>
Strunk & White 3rd edition p9:

   With none, use the singular verb when the word means "no one" or "not
    one."

      None of us are perfect.     None of us is perfect.

    A plural verb is commonly used when none suggests more than one thing
    or person.

      None are so fallible as those who are sure they're right.


Alan

-- 
Alan L Tyree                    http://www2.austlii.edu.au/~alan
Tel:  04 2748 6206              sip:typhoon@iptel.org