What’s the difference?

Richard M.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

What’s the difference?

Looking back through the Quick Lesson and the accompanying discussion I still can’t tell the difference between “none arrived” and “no one arrived”. Aren’t they just two ways of saying the same thing? (Albeit, the second being my preference.)

Asked 1 year ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

None -- nobody of a group (aucun, aucun d'entre eux)
nobody -- nobody at all (personne)

My friends arrived late and none got on the train. -- Some other people might have gotten on the train but none of my friends did.

My friends arrived late and nobody got on the train. -- For whatever reason, nobody got on the train, not even myfriends.

CélineKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Bonjour Richard,

To supplement Chris's answer:

None (of them):

Le groupe de touristes est arrivé au restaurant. Aucun (d'entre eux) ne mangent de viande. = The group of tourists has arrived. None (of them) eat meat.

No one - Nobody:

Personne n'est venu à la réunion ! Nobody came to the meeting!

I hope this is helpful.

Bonne journée !

Richard M.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I suppose if you’re talking about things rather than people, “none arrived” makes sense. Perhaps that’s what I’m missing?

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Richard, in another context ‘ all my friends went to the station, but none got on the train ‘ or ‘…. no one got on the train’. 

The distinction is not just for objects - depends on context and intended meaning whether none (of them), no one, or nothing, is the right expression. 

Same in French as in English, I think.

Richard M.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thank you for all replies. Very helpful.

What’s the difference?

Looking back through the Quick Lesson and the accompanying discussion I still can’t tell the difference between “none arrived” and “no one arrived”. Aren’t they just two ways of saying the same thing? (Albeit, the second being my preference.)

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