none
/nʌn/
not any
None of the options were correct.
This means that not one of the choices was right.
general
Not any; not one
None of the students answered the question.
This means that zero students responded.
None of the cakes were left.
This means that all the cakes had been eaten.
Often used with 'of' to refer to a group or collection.
Pro Tip
Pronoun vs. Determiner
'None' can function as a pronoun (e.g., 'None are left') or a determiner (e.g., 'None of the options').
Gold Rule
Singular or Plural?
'None' is often treated as singular in formal contexts (e.g., 'None is correct') but can be plural in informal contexts (e.g., 'None are correct').
Word Origin
From Middle English 'noon', from Old English 'nān', meaning 'not one'.
Usage Notes
Can be used as a pronoun or determiner. Often followed by 'of' when referring to a specific group.
Word Breakdown
non-
not
prefix-e
indefinite pronoun ending
suffixEnglish Dictionary