UNIT 85. No/none/any

A. No none nothing nobody/no one nowhere

You can use these negative words at the beginning of a sentence or alone:

* No cars are allowed in the city centre.

* None of this money is mine.

* 'What did you say?' 'Nothing.'

* Nobody (or No one) came to visit me while I was in hospital.

* 'Where are you going?' 'Nowhere. I'm staying here.'

You can also use these words after a verb, especially after be and have:

* The house is empty. There's nobody living there.

* She had no difficulty finding a job.

No/nothing/nobody etc. = not + any/anything/anybody etc.:

* We haven't got any money. (= We've got no money.)

* I didn't say anything. (= I said nothing.)

* She didn't tell anybody about her plans. (= She told nobody...)

* The station isn't anywhere near here. (= ... is nowhere near here)

When you use no/nothing/nobody etc., do not use a negative verb (isn't, didn't, can't etc.):

* I said nothing. (not 'I didn't say nothing')

* Nobody tells me anything. (not 'Nobody doesn't tell ...')

B. We also use any/anything/anybody etc. (without 'not') to mean 'it doesn't matter which/ hat/who' (see Unit 84D). Compare no- and any-:

* 'What do you want to eat?' 'Nothing. I'm not hungry.'

I'm so hungry. I could eat anything. (= it doesn't matter what)

* The exam was extremely difficult. Nobody passed. (= everybody failed)

The exam was very easy. Anybody could have passed. (= it doesn't matter who)

C. No and none

We use no + a noun. No = not a or not any:

* We had to walk home because there was no bus. (= there wasn't a bus)

* I can't talk to you now. I've got no time. (= I haven't got any time)

* There were no shops open. (= there weren't any shops open)

We use none alone (without a noun):

* 'How much money have you got?' 'None.' (= no money)

* All the tickets have been sold. There are none left. (= no tickets left)

Or we use none of ...:

none of these shops none of my money none of it/them/us/you

After none of + a plural word ('none of the shops', 'none of them' etc.) you can use a singular or a plural verb. A plural verb is more usual:

* None of the shops were (or was) open.

D. After nobody/no one you can use they/them/their:

* Nobody phoned, did they? (= did he or she)

* The party was a disaster. Nobody enjoyed themselves. (= himself or herself)

* No one in the class did their homework. (= his or her homework)

@p171

EXERCISES

85.1 Answer these questions using none/nobody/nothing/nowhere.

1. What did you do? _Nothing._

2. Who were you talking to? ---

3. Where are you going? ---

4. How much luggage have you got? ---

5. How many children have they got? ---

6. Who did you meet? ---

7. What did you buy? ---

Now write full sentences using any/anybody/anything/anywhere.

8 (1) _I didn't do anything._

9. (2) I ---

10. (3) ---

11. (4) ---

12. (5) ---

13. (6) ---

14. (7) ---

85.2 Complete these sentences with no, none or any.

1. It was a public holiday, so there were _no_ shops open.

2. I haven't got _any_ money. Can you lend me some?

3. I couldn't make an omelette because there were --- eggs.

4. I couldn't make an omelette because there weren't --- eggs.

5. 'How many eggs have we got? --- I'll go and buy some from the shop if you like.'

6. We took a few photographs but --- of them were very good.

7. What a stupid thing to do! --- intelligent person would do such a thing.

8. I'll try and answer --- questions you ask me.

9. I couldn't answer --- of the questions they asked me.

10. We cancelled the party because --- of the people we invited were able to come.

85.3 Complete these sentences with no- or any- + -body/-thing/-where.

1. I don't want _anything_ to drink. I'm not thirsty.

2. The bus was completely empty. There was --- on it.

3. 'Where did you go for your holidays? --- I stayed at home.'

4. I went to the shops but I didn't buy ---.

5. 'What did you buy? '---. couldn't find --- I wanted.'

6. The town was still the same when I returned years later --- had changed.

7. Have you seen my watch? I've looked all over the house but I can't find it ---.

8. There was complete silence in the room. --- said ---.

85.4 Choose the right word.

1. She didn't tell _nobody/anybody_ about her plans. (anybody is correct)

2. The accident looked serious but fortunately _nobody/anybody_ was injured.

3. I looked out of the window but I couldn't see _nobody/anybody._

4. My job is very easy. _Nobody/Anybody_ could do it.

5. 'What's in that box?' _'Nothing/Anything._ It's empty.'

6. The situation is uncertain. _Nothing/Anything_ could happen.

7. I don't know _nothing/anything_ about economics.

@p172

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 1031