How to parse. ...

146

IRREGULARITIES. [Par. 227-229.

For example, in (2) "one" is unemphatic, and
means " a "; but where it is emphatic, it may mean
" a single one," e.g. in
(8) " Lend me a book; I have not one left."
227 4. " None," when used as a Subject, ought to
be followed by a Singular Verb, as in Dryden:(1) "None but the brave deserves the fair."
But when you are denying something about a
number of persons, the Verb falls naturally into
the Plural:(2) " None of my friends were at home."
This arises from a confusion (II.) between " none
was at home " and " all were not-at-home."
228 It is a common fault (not quite sanctioned by custom),
to say: —
(3) " Neither you nor he were to blame," for " was to blame." 1
This arises from a confusion (II.) with(4) " You and he were both not to blame.":229 "None" was once used -as an Adjective; and
this usage is still retained in(5) " Wllere is your book? I have none."
(6) " Hope have I none."
1 The Rule is that when two Subjects are separated by " nor," or
" or," the Verb agrees with the latter.
There is a little halshness in the correct" was." The harshness
may be evaded by writing, "Neither he nor you were to blamine."
Here " were" must be right, whether the Subject be regarded
(incorrectly) as Plural " he nor you," or (correctly) as "you."