Please correct this sentence for me
"None of my children has blue eyes" why "children" is a countable noun and also a plural but the verb is singular. Thanks
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Answers · 4
1
'None' here is being interpreted as 'not one' - singular - so the singular 'has' was used.
But ..... you will hear both.
"None of my children has blue eyes"
"None of my children have blue eyes."
Sometimes, people saying 'none of my children' , will be thinking of several in their minds. They will be thinking of 'none' as 'not any' (with 'any' being more than one). Because of this they will follow with the plural and not singular version of the verb.
1
The verb in this example is agreeing with none, which requires the singular. “Of my children” is merely modifying none.
None [of my children] has blue eyes.
1
None of my children have blue eyes
0
Negatives are singular by convention. "None", "any" for example. There is no logic or rationale. Language is a matter of usage and convention.
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