Unit 81. No/none/any No/any + one/-body/-thing/-where
A.
No none no one nobody nothing nowhere
We use these negative words especially at the beginning of a sentence or alone:
No one (or Nobody) came to visit me when I was in the hospital.
No system of government is perfect.
“Where are you going?” “Nowhere. I’m staying here.”
None of these books are mine.
“What did you do?” “Nothing.”
You can also use these words in the middle or at the end of a sentence. But don’t use “not” with these words. They are already negative:
? I saw nothing, (not I didn’t see nothing.)
In the middle or at the end of a sentence, we more often use: not… any/anyone/anybody/ anything/anywhere:
I didn’t see anything. (= I saw nothing.)
We don’t have any money. (= We have no money.)
The station isn’t anywhere near here. (= … is nowhere near here)
She didn’t tell anyone about her plans. (= She told no one) Where there is another negative word, you don’t need “not”:
Nobody tells me anything. (= People don’t tell me anything.)
B.
No and none
We use no with a noun. No = not a or not any:
We had to walk because there was no bus. (= there wasn’t a bus)
I can’t talk to you now. I have no time. (= I don’t have any time)
There were no stores open. (= There weren’t any stores open.) We use none alone (without a noun):
” How much money do you have ?” ‘ ‘None.” Or we use none of:
none of these shops none of my money none of it/us/you/them After none of + a plural word (“none of the girls / none of them,” etc.), you can use a singular or a plural verb. A plural verb is more usual, especially in spoken English:
None of the people I met were English.
C.
After no one/nobody we often say they/them/their:
Nobody called, did they? (= did he or she)
No one in the class did their homework. (= his or her homework)
D.
You can use any/no with comparative (any better / no bigger, etc.):
Do you feel any better today? (= Do you feel better at all? – said to someone who felt sick yesterday)
We’ve waited long enough. I’m not waiting any longer. (= not even a minute longer)
I expected your house to be very big, but it’s no bigger than mine. (= not even a little bigger)
For any see also Unit 80.
