Blog about English
Using no, none, nobody, nothing, nowhere, neither and similar negative words.
Negative words such as no, none, nobody, nothing, nowhere, neither, and either can express negation without using not in the main clause.
These words have different grammatical functions and must be combined with the appropriate noun, verb, or clause structure.
No is a determiner used directly before a noun to express complete absence.
For example, There is no food and We have no money.
No + noun can often express the same basic meaning as not + any + noun.
For example, I have no money is equivalent in meaning to I do not have any money.
No can occur before both plural countable nouns and singular or uncountable nouns.
For example, no books, no students, no time, and no information.
None replaces a noun phrase and means not one or not any of a previously identified set.
For example, I invited five people, but none came.
None of is followed by a noun phrase or pronoun and means not any member or amount of the specified group.
For example, None of the students passed and None of them agreed.
The verb after none can vary according to whether the expression refers to individuals or an amount, with plural agreement common when individual members are emphasized.
For example, None of the students are ready is common, while None of the money is available uses singular agreement.
Nobody and no one refer to no person and normally function as singular pronoun subjects.
For example, Nobody knows the answer and No one was available.
Nobody can often express the same basic meaning as not + anybody.
For example, Nobody called is equivalent to Nobody called / There wasn't anybody who called depending on structure; I did not see anybody is an alternative with not.
Nobody and no one normally take singular verb forms in standard English.
For example, Nobody knows and No one wants to leave.
Nothing refers to no thing and functions as a negative pronoun.
For example, Nothing happened and I found nothing.
Nothing can often express the same basic meaning as not + anything.
For example, I saw nothing is similar in meaning to I did not see anything.
Nowhere refers to no place and can function as a negative adverb or pronoun-like expression.
For example, We have nowhere to go and I could find it nowhere.
Nowhere can often express the same basic meaning as not + anywhere.
For example, I could not find it anywhere is equivalent in basic meaning to I found it nowhere.
Neither refers to not one and not the other of two people or things.
For example, Neither answer is correct.
Neither of refers to not one and not the other member of a specified pair or group of two.
For example, Neither of the answers is correct and Neither of them came.
Neither ... nor coordinates two negative alternatives and indicates that both are excluded.
For example, Neither John nor Mary came.
Either can mean one or the other in affirmative contexts and can occur at the end of negative clauses with the meaning also or as an alternative negative marker.
For example, I do not like it either.
Either refers to one of two possibilities, while neither refers to neither of the two.
For example, Either answer is acceptable means one of the two can be accepted, while Neither answer is acceptable means neither can.
Negative pronouns and determiners can make do-support or another negative auxiliary unnecessary because the negative meaning is already expressed lexically.
For example, Nobody came does not require Nobody did not come.
A clause containing a negative word normally does not also need not unless a specific construction requires an additional negative element.
For example, Nobody came is standard, not Nobody didn't come when the intended meaning is simply that nobody came.
Standard formal English normally avoids multiple negative elements when they are intended to express a single logical negation.
For example, I didn't see anybody is standard, while I didn't see nobody has a different or nonstandard interpretation depending on variety.
Negative pronouns such as nobody, nothing, and neither can function as subjects and normally control the appropriate verb form.
For example, Nobody knows, Nothing seems wrong, and Neither is correct.
Negative pronouns such as nobody, nothing, and none can function as objects.
For example, I saw nobody, She found nothing, and We invited none of them.
Negative pronouns and expressions can occur after prepositions according to the normal grammatical pattern.
For example, Nobody was talking to him, I found nothing in the box, and There was nowhere to sit.
Some negative words can be followed by infinitive constructions that describe an absence of possibility, destination, or action.
For example, There was nobody to help and We had nowhere to go.
No longer means that something which was previously true is not true now.
For example, The shop is no longer open.
No more can indicate that something is no longer available, occurring, or permitted, depending on context.
For example, There is no more coffee and No more questions, please.
Nothing but means only and removes all alternatives except the specified thing.
For example, It was nothing but a misunderstanding.
Nobody but means no person other than the specified person or group.
For example, Nobody but Sarah knew the answer.
Nothing like can express a strong contrast with or lack of resemblance to something.
For example, This is nothing like the original design.
Neither can occur directly before a singular countable noun referring to one of two items, while retaining its negative meaning.
For example, Neither option is suitable.
No is normally used before a noun, while none replaces a noun phrase or occurs in none of constructions.
For example, No students came, but None of the students came.
No one refers to people, while none can refer to people or things within an identified set.
For example, No one answered and None of the answers was correct.
Use negative words according to their grammatical function and avoid adding unnecessary negative auxiliaries or incompatible determiners.
Common mistakes include using no before an adjective instead of a noun, confusing no and none, saying nobody didn't when simple negation is intended, and confusing either with neither.