Distributives in English Grammar: All, No, None of

Distributives are words we use to describe how a group of people or things are divided or shared out. Some of the most common distributives in English are all, no, and none of. We use them to refer only to three or more things or people.

All

Rule 1: We use all with plural nouns to refer to every element in a group of three or more people or things. The verb is conjugated accordingly.

Rule 2: We use all of when there is a determiner (the, these, their, etc.) before a noun, but this is optional.

Note: We must use all of before absolute pronouns that replace a noun (them, us, theirs, mine, etc.).

Rule 3: We can use the construction not all with plural nouns to divide a group.

No

Rule 4: We use no before a noun in the meaning of not any or not one. The verb is conjugated accordingly.

None of

Rule 5: We use none of before pronouns and before a noun with a determiner (the, these, their, etc.).

Note: When none of refers to a singular noun, the verb is conjugated in the singular. When it refers to a plural noun, it is conjugated in the plural.