BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

none of my friends

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 266
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:46 pm
Thanked: 8 times
GMAT Score:690

none of my friends

by pkw209 » Thu May 06, 2010 7:33 pm
As of this morning, none of my friends have been able to solve the puzzle contained in last week's newspaper.

a) none of my friends have been able to solve

b) none of my friends was able to solve

c) not one of my friends has yet been able to solve

d) none of my friends has been able to solve

e) nobody among my friends have solved
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1560
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:38 am
Thanked: 137 times
Followed by:5 members

by thephoenix » Thu May 06, 2010 7:44 pm
imo d
Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and discouraged men who kept on working
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 266
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:46 pm
Thanked: 8 times
GMAT Score:690

by pkw209 » Thu May 06, 2010 7:48 pm
That's correct. However, what's your explanation?

Apparently, "none" is supposed to be singular. However, according to MGMAT, "none" is part of the SANAM pronouns, which means that technically the verb should be plural because of "friends." In this case, the answer would be A.

Can anyone clarify as I'm sure I'm not the only one who is slightly confused?

Thanks!
Top
User avatar
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 3:32 am
Thanked: 1 times
GMAT Score:650

by troh » Thu May 06, 2010 9:27 pm
pkw209 wrote:That's correct. However, what's your explanation?

Apparently, "none" is supposed to be singular. However, according to MGMAT, "none" is part of the SANAM pronouns, which means that technically the verb should be plural because of "friends." In this case, the answer would be A.

Can anyone clarify as I'm sure I'm not the only one who is slightly confused?

Thanks!
This question seems that have a problem in selecting answers which are presented by giving students to
simultaneously choose between a) and d). To me, both two answers seems correct answers.
Therefore, I particularly assumed that kaplan mistakenly put d) in there, which might be originally supposed to be
quoted as d) none of my friend has. If so, we can easily find the answer a).
It's just my opinion.
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 266
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:46 pm
Thanked: 8 times
GMAT Score:690

by pkw209 » Thu May 06, 2010 9:32 pm
Thanks for the response. This question was taken directly from a Kaplan 800 book and the official answer is D.

I think it has to be one or the other - it can't be both singular and plural.

I just don't understand why there are two rules for the same word...and of course the most puzzling part about this is that no one knows which version is correct.

The level of ambiguity in some aspects of sentence correction really defeats the purpose of this test.
Top
User avatar
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 3:32 am
Thanked: 1 times
GMAT Score:650

by troh » Thu May 06, 2010 9:52 pm
pkw209 wrote:Thanks for the response. This question was taken directly from a Kaplan 800 book and the official answer is D.

I think it has to be one or the other - it can't be both singular and plural.

I just don't understand why there are two rules for the same word...and of course the most puzzling part about this is that no one knows which version is correct.

The level of ambiguity in some aspects of sentence correction really defeats the purpose of this test.
I have to buy Kaplan 800 as fast as I could. Kaplan's verbal workbook is already done, but I didn't attack that book which many beatthegmat people quoted. Anyway, hope you to succeed in getting the target score.
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 266
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:46 pm
Thanked: 8 times
GMAT Score:690

by pkw209 » Thu May 06, 2010 10:06 pm
Thanks, good luck to you too.

Can anyone clarify the answer to this question?
Top
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 30
Joined: Mon Apr 12, 2010 9:00 am
Thanked: 1 times

by vikramveer » Thu May 06, 2010 10:26 pm
Since None is singular in this case ans should be D..
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 266
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:46 pm
Thanked: 8 times
GMAT Score:690

by pkw209 » Thu May 06, 2010 10:29 pm
Why is "none" singular in this case? According to MGMAT none depends on the "of" construction...
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 758
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 9:32 pm
Location: Bangalore,India
Thanked: 67 times
Followed by:2 members

by sumanr84 » Fri May 07, 2010 9:46 am
pkw209 wrote:As of this morning, none of my friends have been able to solve the puzzle contained in last week's newspaper.

a) none of my friends have been able to solve

b) none of my friends was able to solve

c) not one of my friends has yet been able to solve

d) none of my friends has been able to solve

e) nobody among my friends have solved
It has to be A...ur rite.
MGMAT strictly follows GMAT pattern and cannot go wrong. I doubt on Kaplan. On a number of occasion I have seen queries posted from Kaplan have drawn too much of attention for nothing but wrong..
I am on a break !!
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 278
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2009 1:17 pm
Location: Bangalore,India
Thanked: 17 times

by loveusonu » Fri May 07, 2010 10:44 pm
Guys can any 1 please explain "As of this morning" means till this morning. 'Has' is used if activity is continuing in present.
So shouldn't we use 'has' over here??
Sonu
--------
When you want something desperately, the whole Universe conspires in helping to give it to you - The Alchemist
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 52
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:08 am
Thanked: 5 times

by akdayal » Sat May 08, 2010 8:11 am
What about E
Here no ambiguity like none.
None can be used as a singular or plural.
Top
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 30
Joined: Mon Apr 12, 2010 9:00 am
Thanked: 1 times

by vikramveer » Mon May 10, 2010 10:43 am
Indeed, the SANAM words can take either singular or plural verbs, depending on the context. From a language perspective, none should always be singular ("Not one of my friends is coming"), but the word has broken down so much, that the official rules have been changed. Now, you are forced to look at it as a kind of compound noun "none of my friends", with an understanding that there was an expectation of multiple people coming, therefore multiple people must not have shown up.
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 809
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:10 pm
Thanked: 50 times
Followed by:4 members

by akhpad » Wed May 12, 2010 12:39 am
I am also really getting confused now.

Initially, I learnt that NONE might be singular or plural depending on context.

NONE of <Plural Subject> <Plural Verb> + ...
NONE of <Singular Subject> <Singular Verb> + ...

NONE takes singular verb when it mean NOT ONE. This I learnt from Grammar Book.

Latter on, I found same thing in Manhattan GMAT SC Guide. But today I confused when I saw in Kaplan.

Kaplan uses singular verb(in above post). I don't understand. Why?

I saw one more example in OG Review 12th Ed, Problem No 22
None of the attempts to specify the causes of crime explains why most of the people exposed to the alleged causes do not commit crimes and, conversely, why so many of those not so exposed do.

This is correct sentence as per OG but they have treated "None of the attempts" as Singular. However, I have noticed in OG 12th Ed that They have used singular / plural both verb for NONE of <plural subject>.

NONE takes singular verb according to => https://www.thefreedictionary.com/none

Explanation of NONE at https://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asp is same as Manhattan GMAT.
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 995
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:56 pm
Thanked: 31 times
Followed by:1 members

by paes » Thu May 13, 2010 3:08 am
why B is wrong ?

'as of this morning' seems to indicate the past event.
so 'was' should be the right choice instead of 'has'
Top
Post new topic Locked