All, no, none

All, no and none are quantifiers. All refers to the whole amount or quantity of something that is indicated. No and none refer to ‘not any’ or ‘not one’.

Here are some examples:

1. We can use either a singular or a plural verb with none and ‘none of’.

In the following sentence, none could mean ‘not one’ [in a singular sense] or ‘not any’ [a plural sense]. In formal written English, a singular verb is preferred but in conversation, we often use a plural verb:

• None of the delegates has/have responded to the invitations yet.

Sometimes, the context suggests a sense that’s clearly plural and a plural verb is required:

• Almost none of my colleagues work from home. [suggests a large number]
• None but the best are recruited by my company. [not talking about one person]

With uncountable nouns, we have to use a singular verb:

• They gave us a lot of information but none of it was very useful.

See subject verb agreement for more information.

2. No can take either a singular or plural verb with the same meaning but a singular noun is more formal:

• There was no computer in the meeting room.
• There were no computers in the meeting room.

3. We can use ‘not’ with all to make negative sentences:

• Not all of my colleagues are English.
• My colleagues aren’t all English.

But ‘not all’ does not have the same meaning as none:

• Not all of my colleagues are English. [but some of them are]
• None of my colleagues are English. [I have no English colleagues]

4. We can use a singular noun with all when we are referring to periods of time:

• I spent all week working on that report.
• I waited all morning for him to call but he didn’t.

We can use ‘of’ with all when we are referring to a more specific quantity or amount. For example:

• All cars need fuel or electrical power. [cars generally]
• All of the cars in this country use petrol or diesel. [specific cars]

Note that

1. Unlike some other quantifiers e.g some, many, few, little, ‘of’ isn’t necessary with all when we are being specific

• All the cars in this country use petrol or diesel.
• All of the cars in this country use petrol or diesel.

2. We can use ‘no’ generally and ‘none of’ specifically. For example:

• No cars were manufactured in the US from 1942-1946. [any cars]
• None of the cars in this company is more than two years old. [specific cars]

We can’t use ‘of’ + noun. We need to use ‘the’, a demonstrative, a pronoun or a possessive adjective.

• All of friends live near me.
• All(of) my friends live near me.
• I like none of books.
• I like none of these books.

All isn’t often used without a noun and it’s sometimes incorrect to do this:

• I told all in the sales department.
• I told everyone in the sales department.

• I finished all.
• I finished everything.

However, we can use all in this kind of sentence:

• I told them all I know.
• I told them everything I know.

Or with ‘about:

• I told them all about the new project.
• I told them everything about the new project.

‘All the time’ means ‘continuously’ or ‘often’:

• This production line is in operation all the time. [around the clock; it never stops]
• He complains about his job all the time. [often, a lot]

‘Every time’ means ‘on each occasion’:

• I stay in the same hotel every time I go to London.
• Every time I hear that song, I feel happier.

These have the same meaning but no and ‘none of’ are considered more emphatic:

Be careful not to use double negatives:

• There isn’t no useful information.
• He didn’t have none of the skills.
• I haven’t never been to China.

All can be placed later than a noun in a sentence as well as in front of the noun:

• My friends all live near me. = All my friends live near me.
• We are all going to London tomorrow. = All of us are going to London tomorrow.

There are a lot of informal, conversational expressions with no + noun. Here are some examples:

We can use intensifiers to give extra information. Here are some examples: