"No one" and "None"

[divineacclivity]

Hi,

Could experts please explain the difference between the usage of "None" and "No one" (from GMat's perspective ofcourse).

Are "No one" and "None" replaceable always, for example in the following sentences, is their usage correct? Please explain why or why not. thanks.

Visitors usually take complete tour of this beautiful city but no one ever visits the ancient fort built in the center.

Visitors usually take complete tour of this beautiful city but none ever visits the ancient fort built in the center.

Visitors usually take complete tour of this beautiful city but none has ever visited the ancient fort built in the center.

thanks in advance

[RonPurewal]

Hi,

Could experts please explain the difference between the usage of "None" and "No one" (from GMat's perspective ofcourse).

Are "No one" and "None" replaceable always, for example in the following sentences, is their usage correct? Please explain why or why not. thanks.

Visitors usually take complete tour of this beautiful city but no one ever visits the ancient fort built in the center.

Visitors usually take complete tour of this beautiful city but none ever visits the ancient fort built in the center.

Visitors usually take complete tour of this beautiful city but none has ever visited the ancient fort built in the center.

thanks in advance

they're different.

"no one" (= basically equivalent to "nobody") means, basically, "no person".
this construction can be used by itself; it doesn't need to refer to a noun in the sentence. (for instance, it's okay to write things like No one heard the explosion last night.)

"none", on the other hand, must actually refer to a noun in the sentence.
e.g.
Several users attempted the most difficult puzzle, but none was able to solve it.

there is debate in the linguistic community as to whether "none" can be plural. (there is no question that it can be singular.) fortunately, though, that's a difference that will not be tested on the gmat, so you needn't worry about it.

[divineacclivity]

Thank you, Ron. Your explanation is wonderful as usual.

Just one more question on this.
No one I suppose is for people where as none can be used for living or non-living objects, right?

e.g. All the chocolate boxes are lying here, but none is wrapped yet.

thanks in advance

[jnelson0612]

Thank you, Ron. Your explanation is wonderful as usual.

Just one more question on this.
No one I suppose is for people where as none can be used for living or non-living objects, right?

e.g. All the chocolate boxes are lying here, but none is wrapped yet.

thanks in advance

Correct. :-)

[divineacclivity]

thank you.

[tim]

:)

[sw001]

Agree about the debate for "None" and that it goes either way (singular or plural) in linguistic community. However, Singular form is preferred in GMAT (per some forum discussions here).

I have question for the other words - especially "Any"
[b]Does "any" take both Singular or Plural form. OR like "none" singular is preferred??
e.g. Any - Any of the slices is the same. OR
Any of the slices are the same.
Any of the slice is the same. [/b]

These other forms - both Singular and Plural, correct? - for All, Some, Many, Most.

All of the pie is finished.
All the pizza slices are burnt.
Some of the students are coming.
Some of the cake is left.
Many and Most - both Singular and Plural.
Many students are attending?
Many in the senate believe he will be the president.
Most of the pizza is burnt.
Most of the slices are burnt.

[supreet0405]

Hi

Well as far as know, all those things that are countable (slices, students, as you mentioned) have to take plural forms with any, some, etc. On the other hand, pie, pizza is singular, so basically you are dealing with say 'amount' here which is not countable.

Thus,
Some of the cake is left. ->correct(cake is singular, dealing with its quantity here which is not countable)
Most of the pizza is burnt.->correct(pizza is singular, whereas its quantity is not countable; unless of-course slices were mentioned).

hope it helps.

[sw001]

Thanks for your reply and explanation.

I was more concerned about the Any. As None can take both forms - based on grammar world, but in GMAT I believe the Singular form is preferred.

Re-pasting the question from the earlier post -
I have question for the other words - especially "Any"
Does "any" take both Singular or Plural form. OR like "none" singular is preferred??
e.g. Any - Any of the slices is the same. OR
Any of the slices are the same.
Any of the slice is the same.

[tim]

I don't really see how "many" can ever be singular; can you come up with an example?

Your confusion with "any" as singular seems to stem from your use of a preposition after the "any". You can't say "any of the slice is up for grabs", but you can say "any slice is up for grabs".

[RonPurewal]

None can take both forms - based on grammar world, but in GMAT I believe the Singular form is preferred.

The singular/plural status of "none" will never be tested on the GMAT.

Never.

Never ever ever.

[sw001]

I don't really see how "many" can ever be singular; can you come up with an example?

Your confusion with "any" as singular seems to stem from your use of a preposition after the "any". You can't say "any of the slice is up for grabs", but you can say "any slice is up for grabs".

Hello Tim,
Yes, "Many" should always be Plural.
However, In MGMAT SC Chapter 3, Page 45 - "Any" is quoted as taking both the forms. Can you please provide an example of Plural form? Is usually the singular form of "Any" preferred in GMAT?

But, I think as Ron has quoted about "none", I believe the singular plural status of "Any" should also not be a concern for SC.

Thanks

[tim]

I kind of did give an example, when I gave an example that wouldn't work in the singular:

"any of the slice is up for grabs" is wrong, but

"any of the slices are up for grabs" would be fine.

For that matter,

"any slices are up for grabs" would work too.

The takeaway? Does "any" refer to something singular or plural? That's how you know whether "any" is singular or plural!

[sw001]

Thanks Tim!

[RonPurewal]

Can anyone point to an official problem in which this concept is actually tested?

If not, it isn't worth worrying about.