there were no people vs there was no people

The correct phrase is "there were no people." The verb "were" should agree with the plural noun "people." The phrase "there was no people" is incorrect because the singular verb "was" does not match the plural noun "people".

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Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: February 21, 2025 • 6390 views

Correct. The verb "were" agrees with the plural noun "people."

"there were no people"

This phrase is used to indicate the absence of people in a particular place or situation.

Examples:

There were no people at the park yesterday.
There were no people in the room when I arrived.
There were no people on the street late at night.
There were no people at the event due to bad weather.
There were no people in the building during the fire drill.

Show examples from the web [+]

There were no people.
There were no people then, Jeffrey.
There were no people to come and help.
There were no people there, and then there were people.
There were no people. Nobody.
There were no healthy people among them.
Which explained why there were no older people.
There were no cat people in the middle ages.
Mr. Murray realized/that there were no more/miserable people left, except for him.
Luckily, there were no other people around when the bomb exploded.
Mr President, I thought there were no illiterate people here but I will obey the Rules.
There were no black people in Duran Duran. Think.
It's true, if there were no fish people, there'd be no need to guard the chest.
And because there were no mad people among the fifty, sixty Bedouin.
They were nomads because they wandered without a fixed residence, And because there were no mad people among the fifty, sixty Bedouin.
There were no homeless or hungry people in our country, we've had enough food supply and the prices were stable.
I just think if there were no banks, then people would share their money more because they'd be able to see it.
There were no indicators that these people were sick until they were dead.
It is also a splendid dream for Europe, but it is a dream that could turn into a nightmare if there were no community of people that felt at home in a federal state.
There were no black people in Duran Duran. Think.

Alternatives:

There was nobody there.
No one was present.
There were no individuals around.
There were no persons in sight.
The place was deserted.

Incorrect. The singular verb "was" does not agree with the plural noun "people."

"there was no people"

Show examples from the web [+]

There had to be a time when there was no people, right?
There was no Congolese people with shared interests and prospects, only a multitude of peoples in isolated areas.
I was floating in the ocean... and it seemed like I'd been shipwrecked or something... but there was no other people.
And that's when I realized there was no saving these people.
There was no justice for people like the Queens till you showed us how to get it.
In Chatswin, there was no end to what people were willing to spend money on.
I can tell you that we used this instrument in Denmark and we did think that it would at first generate some revenue for the Treasury, but I have to say that there was no revenue because people switched to alternative substances immediately.
People are better than no people.
No people or signs of people.
A fantasyland tourist attraction with no people in it.
There are no people in his life.
In Romania there are no people paying for it.
And now I have no people.
Automated factory, no people, lots of places to hide.
I prefer my basement, no people.
There are no people that Tae San personally meets or contacts.
China is short of everything but no people
There were no people then, Jeffrey.
Trust me, there are no people here.
But no people so important as the powerful Sarmatians to the east.

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there were no people vs there was no people

"there were no people"

"there was no people"

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