Uses of None as various parts of speech

In this article, we will see:

• the various ways ‘none’ can function in a sentence.
• the various sentence structures/patterns involving ‘none’
• various use cases of ‘none’, including some dos and don’ts.

None as various parts of speech

‘None’ can function as:

• a pronoun,
• an adverb.

I looked around for some water, but there was none. (none – pronoun)
He was pushed none too gently against the wall by the police officer. (none – adverb)

None as a Pronoun

Pattern 1

None is the pronoun form of ‘no’.

When working as a pronoun, ‘None’ is used to refer to:

• not any
• not one (nobody)
• not part of a group of people/things.

We can use ’none’ to refer to either countable and uncountable nouns. Also, it can work as a subject or as an object in a sentence.

We brainstormed for new ideas for about an hour. None came to mind. (none – subject, referring to uncountable noun idea)

You have three brothers. I have none. (none – object, referring to countable noun brothers)

When ‘none’ is the subject of a sentence, it can take singular or plural verb.

None of his colleagues lives nearby. (lives – singular verb)
None of the chairs were broken. (were – plural verb)

However, when ‘none’ means ‘not part of a whole’, then we definitely use singular verb.

None of this is mine. (is – singular verb)

Pattern 2: None of

None of my students can do this. (none – pronoun)

We use none + of before:

• Possessives (e.g. his, their, your)
  None of your kittens are eating.

• Demonstratives (e.g. this, these, that, those)
  None of these kittens are eating.

• Article ‘the’

Uses of None

We often use ‘none’ in following ways:

Use 1

If there is a negative word in a sentence/clause, we do not use ‘none’.

He doesn’t care for none of us. (incorrect)
He doesn’t care for any of us. (correct)

Use 2

‘None’ doesn’t work as an adjective. So, we never use it just before a noun. Rather we use:

• no + noun or
• none of + noun

No student in my class talked during the break. (correct; student - noun)
None of the students in my class talked during the break. (correct; students - noun)
None student in my class talked during the break. (incorrect)

None vs No one and Nobody

‘Nobody’ means “no person” or “not anyone.” It works as a singular indefinite pronoun.
Nobody was there to greet the guests. (was – singular verb)

The meaning of ‘No one’ is the same as ‘Nobody.“ It also works as a singular indefinite pronoun.
No one was there to greet the guests. (was – singular verb)

Difference 1

As compared to ‘no one’ or ‘nobody’, the usage of ‘none’ is considered more formal.

Difference 2

‘No one’ and ‘Nobody’ are considered singular pronouns and so we use singular verb with it. ‘None’ may take singular or plural verb.

No one knows when this rain will stop. (correct; knows – singular verb)
Nobody knows when this rain will stop. (correct; knows – singular verb)
None know(s) when this rain will stop. (correct; can use know or knows)

Difference 3

In case of uncountable nouns we use ‘none’. We cannot use ‘no one’ here, because ‘one’ in ‘no one’ is a numeral.

None of the food was left. (correct)
No one of the food was left. (incorrect)

Difference 4

‘No one’ and ‘Nobody’ always refer to people, and not inanimate objects.
‘None’ may refer to people or things.

Extra Books and Tools

If you prefer to learn via books, or want some good English Grammar books for reference purposes, you may read this article which enlists some of the books recommended by us.