concept wrote:Can anyone clarify me whether none is singular or plural. One guide says that we are supposed to use the portion after none (usually the 'of' construction) to identify whether 'none' is plural or singular. Another guide says that none is always singular and I felt that way too.
As I write this, another doubt is propping up in me. In the above passage, is the construction "to identify whether 'none' is plural or singular" a correct formation. I know 'whether a or not' is wrong, but is 'whether a or b' a right usage?

NONE is one of the SANAM pronouns .

S- Some , A - Any , N - None , A- All , M - More / Most .

These pronouns either take singular or plural verb forms depending on the context of the sentence .

Ex : Some of the money WAS stolen .

money - singular , WAS - singular .

Ex : Some of the documents WERE stolen .

But as per MGMAT SC book -

NONE of + plural noun can either take singular or a plural verb form .


Coming to your second question .

whether 'none' is plural or singular" - is the correct Idiom

Hope this helps .

Thanks rockeyb. Thats the notion I had as well before I looked at Kaplan which asserted that none is always singular