<p>I read on grammarbook.com that words that indicate proportions (eg. all/some/many/any/none) are plural or singular depending on the word that follows "of". For example, "Nearly all OF the editors of the magazine AGREE that the article should not have been published" or "all OF my knowledge WAS useful during the test." However, there was a side note at the bottom of the page that said the SAT categorizes "none" as a singular word only. Could someone please confirm this? Thank you :)</p>
<p>Im not sure about this either. Anyone?</p>
<p>That is not tested on the SAT. Ever. (It remains a very controversial topic among serious grammarians, fwiw.)</p>
<p>I learned that “none” is singular. All the bottles were gone; none was left. I am fairly sure that if the choices are “none were left” and “none was left”, the second is the preferred choice.</p>
<p>To add a little fun to the mix. A grammar teacher said it also could be determined by what the word none was referring to: a group or group of things that functions as singular.</p>
<p>For example:</p>
<p>None of that is acceptable. (“That” being designated as singular even though it is a group of things)</p>
<p>None of those animals are allowed. (“Animals” being plural)</p>
<p>Any good usage dictionary will have <em>pages</em> of discussion on this fascinating topic. Anyone who thinks they know the “rule” is wrong–it’s not as simple as you think. (And since the SAT is simple, this topic is not on the test.)</p>
<p>^^ That is why I called my post adding fun. </p>
<p>It is singular. Of those who insist it is plural, none is correct.</p>
<p>My understanding is that none is equivalent to “not one”. Not one of my students is able to pass the exam = None of my students is able to pass the exam. It is always singular.</p>
<p>Your understanding is an oversimplification of a very complex controversy, as explained above. From just one easy-to-Google source:</p>
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<p>^^ Wow, that is exactly what my grammar teacher said 35-years go! Yikes, that is scarily almost verbatim. </p>