nodeterminer
No rules something out completely, either an amount (not any) or an idea (definitely not true).
not anyused before a noun to mean not any, not one, or not a single one
No goes directly before a singular, plural, or uncountable noun and makes the whole sentence negative without needing not as well: There is no milk left means the same as There isn't any milk left.
- There is no milk left in the fridge.
- No dogs are allowed in the park.
- I have no idea what happened.
- We had no reason to worry.
Collocations
phrase no idea, no problemAntonyms some
Compare any (no already makes the sentence negative on its own; not any needs not with the verb); neither; none
definitely notused before a noun to say firmly that something is definitely not true of someone or something
This no rejects an idea about someone or something rather than counting an amount: he's no fool means he is definitely not a fool, often said to correct a wrong impression.
- She's no beginner; she's been playing for years.
- It's no surprise that he won the race.
- This is no small task.
Collocations
phrase no surprise, no small task, no ordinary day
Usage
No makes a sentence negative by itself; do not also add not to the verb: say I have no money, not I don't have no money, which is a double negative and not standard English. No used to answer a question (Are you coming? No.) and no used as an adverb before a comparative (no better than before) belong to separate entries.
Common mistakes
See also any; none (no used alone, without a following noun: none of them came); no (no used alone to answer a question: Are you ready? No.)