Meaning & use
not a soul
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
no person at all; nobody
Grammar: Used as a pronoun; it takes a singular verb: 'Not a soul was there.' It cannot be used before a noun.
Patterns
- not a soul + singular verb
- there + be + not a soul
When we arrived at the beach, there was not a soul in sight.
Not a soul knew about the surprise party until the last minute.
She called for help, but not a soul came to assist her.
Common combinations
- not a soul in sight
- The street was empty; there was not a soul in sight.
- not a soul around
- We waited for hours, but there was not a soul around.
- not a soul knew
- Not a soul knew the answer to the riddle.
- not a soul came
- The concert was so poorly advertised that not a soul came.
Synonyms and how they differ
- nobody
- Neutral and common; 'not a soul' is more emphatic and often used in storytelling.
- no one
- Similar to 'nobody' but slightly more formal; 'not a soul' adds emotional emphasis.
Opposites
Commonly confused: not a soul or not a single soul?
not a soul vs not a single soul
This is a stronger, more emphatic version of 'not a soul'. It means the same but adds extra stress.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
'Not a soul' is singular, so it takes a singular verb. 'Was' is correct for past tense. 'Were' is plural, 'are' is present plural, and the last option mixes present and past incorrectly.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “not a soul”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.