Former New Mexico Gov. Bruce King dies at age 85

None of the employees (was) killed?

Shouldn't it read (were) killed?

hobojoe wrote:

None of the employees (was) killed?
Shouldn't it read (were) killed?

No. The subject of the sentence is singular--none. It is correct as written.

wellwellwell09 wrote:

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No. The subject of the sentence is singular--none. It is correct as written.

I'm sure someone will argue with me, but I learned it thus. It can be used either way, depending on whether 'none' refers to a singular or multiple subject.

Dictionary.com explains it this way.

Since none has the meanings “not one” and “not any,” some insist that it always be treated as a singular and be followed by a singular verb:'The rescue party searched for survivors, but none was found.' However, none has been used with both singular and plural verbs since the 9th century. When the sense is “not any persons or things”(as in the example above), the plural is more common:… none were found. Only when none is clearly intended to mean “not one” or “not any” is it followed by a singular verb:'Of all my articles, none has received more acclaim than my latest one.'

Curious wrote:

<quoted text>
I'm sure someone will argue with me, but I learned it thus. It can be used either way, depending on whether 'none' refers to a singular or multiple subject.
Dictionary.com explains it this way.
Since none has the meanings “not one” and “not any,” some insist that it always be treated as a singular and be followed by a singular verb:'The rescue party searched for survivors, but none was found.' However, none has been used with both singular and plural verbs since the 9th century. When the sense is “not any persons or things”(as in the example above), the plural is more common:… none were found. Only when none is clearly intended to mean “not one” or “not any” is it followed by a singular verb:'Of all my articles, none has received more acclaim than my latest one.'

Good expanation. However, using your definition and that of Dictionary.com , then "None of the employees (meaning not one or not any) WAS killed" would be the correct grammar.

wellwellwell09 wrote:

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Good expanation. However, using your definition and that of Dictionary.com , then "None of the employees (meaning not one or not any) WAS killed" would be the correct grammar.

were

wellwellwell09 wrote:

<quoted text>
Good expanation. However, using your definition and that of Dictionary.com , then "None of the employees (meaning not one or not any) WAS killed" would be the correct grammar.

To me,'none' refers to 'employees' the plural, that's why I prefer 'were. You could express it as 'The employees were not killed.' That's the way my mom (an old time English teacher) taught me. Re-form the sentence without the 'none' and see whether singular or plural fits.

'Were' is still just my personal preference and not necessarily one others will embrace.

Like who really cares how it is worded. A great New Mexican has passed on. Mr. King will be missed. Instead of following in his footsteps or his example our sorry excuse for a current governor has done nothing except line his own pockets.

NM Desert Rat wrote:

Like who really cares how it is worded. A great New Mexican has passed on. Mr. King will be missed. Instead of following in his footsteps or his example our sorry excuse for a current governor has done nothing except line his own pockets.

I can't imagine how anyone thought he'd do otherwise.

I think the C-A has screwed up. Now, granted it has been a few days since I read the article, but I don't remember it saying anything about any employees being killed or not. I am looking at the headline of this topic and it clearly is about Governor King's death, yet the first six comments are about an article in which employees are not killed; I thus have to believe that - once again - the C-A has messed up. It's happened many times before, so I think this is a typical Current-Argus example of apples and oranges. I agree with the Desert Rat in that we have lost a great New Mexican but suspect that has nothing to do with the grammar lesson. Even if I'm wrong - certainly possible - and the article on Governor King says something about not-dead employees, the first six comments miss the point; I don't CARE about the syntax lesson in this case, I care that Mr. King has left us. That said, many who write comments here have atrocious writing - learn the difference between "your" and "you're" people!- so I am happy to see someone else cares, but this isn't the forum for it. Not this time. RIP Bruce and Alice, and thank you for all that you have done for our beloved state.

Too bad the calibre of Bruce King no longer exists. He was indeed a great politician that got things done - - - - - -