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Meaning & use

no

adverb, determiner, noun·Everyday

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UK/nəʊ/
US/noʊ/

Meanings

  1. adverbnot comparable

    Used to give a negative answer or to refuse or disagree.

    Grammar: Can stand alone: Are you coming? No.

    Patterns

    • No, thank you
    • No, I don't

    "Do you want more soup?" "No, thank you."

    No, I haven't seen your keys.

    She asked for a refund, and the shop said no.

  2. determinerbefore a noun

    Not any, or none at all.

    Grammar: Goes before a noun with a positive verb: There is no milk, not There isn't no milk.

    Patterns

    • no + noun
    • there is no something

    There is no milk in the fridge.

    I have no idea where he went.

    She made no attempt to explain.

  3. adverbnot comparable

    Used before a comparative to say that there is not any degree of difference.

    Grammar: Appears as no more, no less, no better.

    Patterns

    • no more than something
    • no longer

    The test was no harder than the last one.

    He is no longer a student.

    The report is no better than the first draft.

  4. nouncountable

    A refusal or negative answer, or a vote against.

    Grammar: Plural nos or noes: The nos won.

    Patterns

    • say no to something
    • a firm no

    She gave a firm no to the offer.

    The vote was seven yeses and three nos.

    Learning to say no is a useful skill.

Word forms

pluralnoes

Common combinations

say no
It is hard to say no to a friend.
no longer
The shop is no longer open on Sundays.
no doubt
No doubt she will call soon.
no matter
No matter what happens, stay calm.
no way
There is no way I can finish today.
no one
No one answered the door.

Synonyms and how they differ

nope
Nope is an informal spoken form of no and it is too casual for formal writing.
not
Not negates a verb or clause, while no answers a question or goes before a noun.
none
None is a pronoun standing alone for not any, while no must be followed by a noun.
nay
Nay is old or used in formal votes, and it is rare in daily speech.

Opposites

yesyeah

Word family

none pronoun
not any of a group
nobody pronoun
no person
nothing pronoun
not anything
nowhere adverb
in or to no place
never adverb
at no time

Commonly confused: no or know? no or not?

no vs know

Know sounds the same as no but means to have knowledge of something. The spelling is the clue.

no vs not

Not goes with a verb: I do not want it. No goes before a noun: I want no help.

Practice

There is ___ sugar left in the jar.

Make it your own

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