no*/*/*/

[nəʊ] grammar word I

summary:

No can be: ■ an adverb: ‘Would you like some tea?' ‘No, thanks.' ♦ She's no taller than Jerry. ■ a determiner: There's no butter in the fridge. ♦ No smoking.

1) giving a negative answer used for giving a negative answer to a question or an offer

‘Are you still working at the clinic?' ‘No, I work at the hospital now.'[/ex]

‘Do you want another cup of coffee?' ‘ No, thanks.'[/ex]

I asked Marla to come and help, but she said no.[/ex]

2) disagreeing with sb used for saying that a statement that someone has made is not true

‘You blame me whenever something goes wrong.' ‘No, I don't.'[/ex]

3) agreeing with a negative used for agreeing with a negative statement, or agreeing to a negative request

‘Don't forget to make the reservation.' ‘No, I won't.'[/ex]

‘We're not as young as we used to be.' ‘No, we're certainly not.'[/ex]

4) not any used for saying that there is not even one person or thing, or not any amount of something

There was no hospital in the town.[/ex]

I have no living cousins that I know about.[/ex]

There's no time to stop and talk.[/ex]

5) telling sb not to do sth used for telling someone not to do something

No! Don't touch that – it's hot.[/ex]

6) not allowed used on signs or in instructions in order to say that something is not allowed

No smoking.[/ex]

7) not at all used for saying that someone or something cannot be described in a particular way

It is no surprise that the company failed.[/ex]

He's no fool – he can see what you're trying to do.[/ex]

•

in no time — in a very short time[/ex]

I'll have it fixed for you in no time.[/ex]

no more/less/better etc — not more/less/better etc than someone or something else[/ex]

The painting was no more than a few inches square.[/ex]

In the end, he got no further than the station.[/ex]

II

(plural noes) noun [C]

no [nəʊ]

a negative answer or vote

His answer was a firm no.[/ex]