423.  The adjective pronoun any is nearly always regarded as plural, as shown in the following sentences:—­

     If any of you have been accustomed to look upon these hours
     as mere visionary hours, I beseech you, etc.—­BEECHER

     Whenever, during his stay at Yuste, any of his friends had
     died, he had been punctual in doing honor to their
     memory.—­STIRLING.

     But I enjoy the company and conversation of its inhabitants, when
     any of them are so good as to visit me.—­FRANKLIN.

     Do you think, when I spoke anon of the ghosts of Pryor’s
     children, I mean that any of them are dead?—­THACKERAY.

In earlier Modern English, any was often singular; as,—­

     If any, speak; for him have I offended.—­SHAKESPEARE.

     If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.—­Bible.

Very rarely the singular is met with in later times; as,—­

     Here is a poet doubtless as much affected by his own descriptions
     as any that reads them can be.—­BURKE.

[Sidenote:  Caution.]

The above instances are to be distinguished from the adjective any, which is plural as often as singular.

[Sidenote:  None usually plural.]

424.  The adjective pronoun none is, in the prose of the present day, usually plural, although it is historically a contraction of ne an (not one).  Examples of its use are,—­

     In earnest, if ever man was; as none of the French philosophers
     were.—­CARLYLE.

     None of Nature’s powers do better service.—­PROF.  DANA

     One man answers some question which none of his contemporaries
     put, and is isolated.—­EMERSON.

     None obey the command of duty so well as those who are free
     from the observance of slavish bondage.—­SCOTT.

     Do you think, when I spoke anon of the ghosts of Pryor’s
     children, I mean that any of them are dead? None are, that I
     know of.—­THACKERAY.

     Early apples begin to be ripe about the first of August; but I
     think none of them are so good to eat as some to
     smell.—­THOREAU.

The singular use of none is often found in the Bible; as,—­

     None of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.—­LUKE iv
     27

Also the singular is sometimes found in present-day English in prose, and less rarely in poetry; for example,—­

     Perhaps none of our Presidents since Washington has stood so
     firm in the confidence of the people.—­LOWELL

     In signal none his steed should spare.—­SCOTT