6
Mrs. Bluezette's Grammar Guide
everyone/everybody, no one/nobody
Every time Mrs. B thinks of Mrs. Bobo, her senior English teacher,
she thinks of the "everyone" lesson.
"EVERYONE in this class NEEDS to learn how to speak and
write the English language if he or she is going to get anywhere
in this world."
"Everyone" takes a singular verb.
v
EVERYONE in this group of reporters WRITES well.
("In this group" and "of reporters" are prepositional phrases that
have no bearing on the verb.)
The same goes for "everybody," "no one," and "nobody."
v
EVERYBODY who wants vacation time NEEDS to sign up
now.
v
NO ONE on our staff GETS preferential treatment.
v
NOBODY I know of LIKES to work the holidays, but it's part of
the job.
A pronoun referring to "everyone" or "no one" (or everybody" or
"nobody") must also be singular.
v
Everyone, including photogs, takes HER (or HIS) pager home.
v
No one, except managers, takes HER (or HIS) cell phone home.
Remember: "everyone" and "(no) one" are the subjects, and because
they're singular they take singular verbs.
