Hopper39 wrote:MGMAT pg. 48 (under SANAM rules) -

"Technically, none of + plural noun can take either a singular or a plural verb form."

But alas, there is no further explanation. SANAM rules would suggest a plural noun -> plural verb, such as "Some of the documents were stolen..." but "none of" seems to be an exception.

Pg. 63 even has the construction "Moreover, none of the items is parallel..."

I've tried looking online, but there is no consensus. Some say the "none of" = "not one of", but that would imply the verb should always be singular, like "No one".

Anyone know if this is just an unsettled grammar issue?

SANAM pronouns you should look at the object of the "of" construction to determine the number of the subject.

Hopper39 wrote:

SANAM pronouns you should look at the object of the "of" construction to determine the number of the subject.

True generally for SANAM, but the book takes particular care to note that the rule is not always the case ONLY FOR "none of", and even uses a construction later (my ex. from pg. 63) that contradicts that SANAM rule:

"Moreover, none of the items is (not ARE) parallel..."

lunarpower wrote: ...

first, the singular/plural status of "none" is a VERY controversial subject.

clearly, "none" is singular in some circumstances, such as sentences in which the context makes it quite clear that a maximum of one person could have satisfied the stated conditions in the first place.
for instance,
james passed by over 200 women on the sidewalk, but none of them was his wife.
in this instance, we clearly want "none" to be singular, since it's impossible for more than one woman to be james's wife.

in other instances, however -- instances in which it's possible for multiple people/items to satisfy the stated conditions -- opinions are divided on whether "none" should be singular or plural.
e.g.
the museum owns a large number of valuable egyptian artifacts, but none of them is/are currently on display.

In the above instance, available sources are very sharply divided on whether "none" should be singular or plural. [It] is easy to find sources that declare that it should be singular; sources that declare that it should be plural; and sources that declare that either is all right.
...