Noandnotare the two most common words we use to indicate negation. We usenobefore a noun phrase:
There’snoaddress on the envelope.
[parent to child]
Nobiscuits before dinner!
Nodecisions have been made.
We usenotwith any other phrase or clause:
It’snotoften that you stop and think about the way you breathe.
Notsuitable for children under 15.
Notsurprisingly, it was a tense match but eventually the more experienced Australians won.
A:Do you go cycling all year round?
B:Notin the winter.
Not:No in the winter.
Noornot any?
There is very little difference in meaning betweenThere is/are no +noun andThere isn’t/aren’t any +noun:
There’snoreason to be afraid of her.(orThere isn’tanyreason to be afraid of her.)
There arenoeggs in the fridge.(orThere aren’tanyeggs in the fridge.)
No+ noun often makes the negative stronger. In speaking, we often stressno.
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NoorNot a/an?
When a noun has an ungradable meaning (it is either something or it is not) we cannot useno+ noun:
A potato isnot afruit.
Not:A potato is no fruit.
When a noun has a gradable meaning,no+ noun means the same asnot a/an+ noun:
[a football manager talking about signing a new player]
It’snosecret that we are interested.(= It’snot asecret. A secret is gradable. Something can be more of a secret than something else.)
Responding to a question
We often usenoto respond to ayes-noquestion, or to agree with a negative statement. We don’t usenoton its own in this way:
A:Do you need anything from the shops?
B:No.I went earlier, thanks.
A:He’s not going to get any better.
B:No.You’re right.
Not:Not. You’re right.
No problem,no good,not worth
We usenoandnotin some common fixed expressions:
A:Whenyou see Alan, can you give him this letter?
B:Yessure,no problem.
She hadno ideawhat time they were arriving.
It’sno goodstanding around watching. Do something!
You’ve gotno chanceof getting a ticket now. They’re all sold out.
It’snot worthtaking a taxi. We can walk.
See also:
Not
No,noneandnone of
Negation
Worthorworthwhile?