none...is/are

这是一个颇有争议的问题。但是下列说法已得到语言学家们的普遍承认：

A. 当 none 与不可数名词连用或者指的是不可数名词时, 其谓语动词总是用单数。在这方面传统语法的规定与实际使用情况是一致的。

1. We hoped the money would arrive soon, but none was forthcoming. (MEG) 我们希望那笔钱能很快送到，但一点也没送来。

2. I wanted some more coffee but there was none left. (Eckersley) 我想再要一些咖啡,但一点儿也没有剩下。

3. None of the blame was your brother's. (Yeats) 你弟弟一点儿过错也没有。

B. 当 none 与复数名词连用或者所指的是复数名词时，传统语法规定其谓语动词必须使用单数。这一用法得到英语教材和各类英语试题的肯定和强调。但是在实际使用上，人们却往往倾向于遵循概念一致的原则，而采用动词的复数。所以，R.Quirk 等人说：“用复数动词更为常见，并且，即使在正式用法中也能普遍被人们所接受：

None (of the books) $\$left\{\begin{array}{l} has \\ have \end{array}\right\} been placed on the shelves. (CGEL, § 10.42) 所有的书都没有放到书架上。”

你从下面的实例可以看到,这两种用法是并存的,并且,往往是因人而异的:

1. [None of us are perfect. (Wilde) 我们之中没有谁是完美的。

2. {None of us was certain how he proposed to act. (Snow) 我们谁也不知道他建议如何行动。

3. [None of my neighbours possess cats. (Denis Healey) 我的邻居中没有人养猫。]

4. None of my neighbours possesses a cat. (RWRT) 我的邻居没有一家养猫。

5. None but the brave deserves the fair. 唯勇敢者才配得上美女。

6. None are so deaf as those that will not hear. 不愿听的人比聋子还聋。

7. None of them are of any use to me. 他们对于我毫无用处。

8. None of them is the man I want. 他们之中谁也不是我所需要的人。

9. I was sure we still had some eggs, but there are none in the fridge. 我以为我们还有一些鸡蛋，但冰箱里一个也没有了。

10. None of my friends have been invited to the party. (LEG) 我的朋友一个也没有被邀请参加聚会。

11. None of the letters have been opened yet. (Wood) 所有的信一封也没有打开。

应当指出,近来,有些英语试题已不再坚持 none 的谓语动词永远使用单数的规则,而出现了符合英语实际使用情况的趋向。

1. You said the books were on the desk but ____ there.

A. there was no one B. there were none C. there were no ones D. was none(Nelson,200B)

2. None of them ____ right.

A. is B. are C. was D. would(TOEFL)