None - can I just check

[Q123R]

'None' can refer to either a singular noun or a plural. In the case of 'none of my friends...' it's plural, so it should be 'none of my friends like chocolate' rather than 'likes chocolate' shouldn't it?

It's cropped up a couple of times in a bookI was reading to my dd. I automatically correct it but then started to doubt myself, so wanted to check.

Yes, in that context the plural form sounds more natural.

Good explanation and examples here

www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/none/

'None' is singular. ( Not one). None is the subject of the verb not 'the friends' - 'of the friends' is just qualifying ( describing) none.

So, it's correct to write ' none of my friends likes chocolate."

I agree with the above post.

In the context you've used, OP, 'None' means 'not one'.

You wouldn't say 'One of my friends like chocolate' , you'd say 'One of my friends likes chocolate' .

Therefore, it's 'None of my friends likes chocolate'.

I'd say it means more like 'not any' of the friends in this context. The whole lot of them don't like chocolate. So plural sounds natural.
It's one of the cases where neither plural or singular is really incorrect.

I agree that it depends if you are saying 'not one' (singular) or 'not any' (plural). I would use the plural form, so 'None of my friends like chocolate.'

@jeannie46

'None' is singular. ( Not one). None is the subject of the verb not 'the friends' - 'of the friends' is just qualifying ( describing) none.

So, it's correct to write ' none of my friends likes chocolate."

Yes. Not one of my friends likes chocolate.

I always use it in the singular.

I'd nearly always use singular, e.g. none of my friends likes chocolate, but their are rare instances where I think a plural verb is needed, e.g. none of my friends like each other.

*there are