None of them Has vs. None of them Have – Which is Correct?

Both none of them has and none of them have can be correct, but the choice depends on meaning and style. Use none of them has when none means not one or a single thing; use none of them have when it means not any or no members of a plural group. In formal writing, singular agreement is preferred.

A similar agreement question arises with Both Has vs. Both Have, where subject meaning also determines the correct verb.

None of Them Has or None of Them Have: Which Is Correct?

None of them has and none of them have are both grammatically acceptable. The difference concerns how you interpret none.

Use none of them has when none means “not one” or refers to each person or thing individually. Use none of them have when none means “not any” and the phrase refers naturally to a plural group.

In formal writing, many style guides traditionally prefer the singular verb after none, especially when the noun or pronoun after of is singular or uncountable. However, plural agreement is widely used and sounds natural when none refers to several people or things.

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

Replace none with either not one or not any. If “not one of them” makes sense, choose has: “Not one of them has arrived.” If “not any of them” sounds more natural, choose have: “Not any of them have arrived.”

Word or Phrase	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
none of them has	Pronoun phrase + singular verb	Not one of them possesses or does something	None of them has the correct answer.
none of them have	Pronoun phrase + plural verb	Not any of them possess or do something	None of them have finished their reports.

How to Use “None of Them Has”

None of them has uses the singular form of the irregular verb have. It is especially appropriate when you mean “not one of them” or want to emphasize each individual member separately. This construction is formal, precise, and commonly preferred in edited prose.

Although them is plural, it does not determine the verb. The subject is the pronoun none, whose meaning can be singular or plural depending on context.

Example 1: None of them has submitted the required form.

Example 2: None of them has a valid explanation for the error.

Example 3: None of them has managed to solve the final problem.

What Are the Different Forms of “Has”?

Has is the third-person singular present form of the irregular verb have. Its main forms are have in the base form, has for third-person singular subjects, had for the past tense, and having as the present participle.

Examples include “I have a ticket,” “She has a ticket,” “They had a ticket,” and “He is having trouble.” In the phrase none of them has, has agrees with the singular interpretation of none.

Etymology of the Word “Has”

Has comes from the Old English verb habban, meaning “to possess,” “to hold,” or “to have.” It developed through Middle English forms before becoming the modern third-person singular form of have.

How to Use “None of Them Have”

None of them have uses the plural form of the verb and is natural when none means “not any” or refers to several members of a group. It is common in everyday speech and informal writing, and it is also acceptable in standard formal English when the plural meaning is clear.

This form often sounds more natural when the sentence describes a shared action or condition involving multiple people. For example, “None of them have arrived” emphasizes that not any members of the group have arrived.

Example 1: None of them have brought their identification.

Example 2: None of them have responded to the invitation.

Example 3: None of them have seen the new exhibit.

What Are the Different Forms of “Have”?

Have is the base form and the present-tense form used with I, you, and plural subjects. Its third-person singular form is has, its past-tense form is had, and its present participle is having.

In none of them have, the base form have follows a plural interpretation of none. The past-tense version is none of them had, which works for both singular and plural interpretations because had does not change according to number.

Etymology of the Word “Have”

Have comes from Old English habban, a verb meaning “to possess” or “to hold.” It is related to similar Germanic words, including Old Norse hafa and German haben. Over time, its meaning expanded to include experience, obligation, relationships, and auxiliary-verb functions.

Related Concepts

Understanding subject–verb agreement and the flexible meaning of indefinite pronouns makes it easier to choose between has and have after none of them.

• Indefinite pronouns: Words such as none, each, everyone, and somebody refer to people or things without naming them specifically. Their number can affect the verb that follows.
• Subject–verb agreement: A verb generally agrees with its subject in number. In this phrase, none is the grammatical subject, not them.
• Partitive constructions: The pattern none of + noun or pronoun is a partitive construction. The meaning of the noun after of can influence whether singular or plural agreement sounds more natural.
• Singular and plural interpretation: None can mean “not one,” which favors singular agreement, or “not any,” which often favors plural agreement.

Examples from Media and Literature

Writers and speakers use both forms depending on whether they emphasize individual members or the group as a whole. The following examples reflect common patterns found in journalism, fiction, commentary, and everyday reporting:

• Literary-style narration: “None of them has yet discovered the truth.” The singular verb emphasizes that not one individual has discovered it.
• News reporting: “None of them have been identified by investigators.” The plural verb treats the people as a group.
• Film and television dialogue: “None of them have a clue what is happening.” The plural form sounds natural in conversational speech.
• Historical writing: “None of them has left a written account.” The singular form gives the sentence a formal, analytical tone.
• Sports coverage: “None of them have scored in the second half.” The plural form refers to several players collectively.

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete each sentence. In some cases, both forms may be grammatically possible, but select the option that best fits the intended meaning and style.

1. None of them _____ received the official notice. (has/have)
2. None of them _____ willing to leave the competition. (has/have)
3. None of them _____ the key to the storage room. (has/have)
4. None of them _____ completed all the required steps. (has/have)
5. None of them _____ a clear explanation for the delay. (has/have)

Answer Key

1. has — “None” means not one individual in this formal sentence.
2. have — The sentence naturally treats the people as a plural group.
3. has — “None” means not one of them possesses the key.
4. have — The sentence focuses on the group members collectively.
5. has — The singular form emphasizes that not one person has an explanation.

“None of Them Has” Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Not one of them has	Emphasizes that no individual member possesses or does something.
No single one of them has	Highlights one person or thing at a time.
Not a single one of them has	Adds strong emphasis to the complete absence of an example.
No member of the group has	A clear and formal alternative for people or organizations.

“None of Them Have” Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Not any of them have	States that no members of a group possess or do something.
They do not have any	A natural conversational alternative.
No members of the group have	A formal alternative that clearly signals plural agreement.
The group members do not have	A direct alternative that avoids the agreement question.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Is “none of them has” grammatically correct?
Yes. None of them has is correct when none means “not one.” It is also a traditional and often preferred choice in formal writing.

Question 2: Is “none of them have” grammatically correct?
Yes. None of them have is correct when none means “not any” and refers to several people or things. It is especially common in speech and informal writing.

Question 3: Which form is better for formal writing?
Use none of them has when you mean “not one of them” or want a more traditional formal style. Use none of them have when the plural meaning is unmistakable and the group is being considered collectively.

Question 4: Does the word “them” require “have”?
No. The verb agrees with none, not directly with them. Because none can have either a singular or plural meaning, both has and have are possible.

Question 5: Can I avoid the disagreement by rewriting the sentence?
Yes. You can write “No member of the group has completed the task” for a singular meaning or “The group members have not completed the task” for a plural meaning.

Conclusion

Both none of them has and none of them have are correct. Choose has when none means “not one” or when you want a formal singular construction. Choose have when none means “not any” and refers to a plural group. Pro Tip: In professional writing, match the verb to your intended meaning and use the rewrite “not one” or “not any” whenever clarity matters.