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No and Not

What is it?

"NOT" and "NO" both express negation, but they're used differently. "NOT" is used with auxiliary verbs (do, does, did, am, is, are, have, will, can, etc.): "I do not like it" → "I don't like it". "NO" is used before nouns (as a determiner): "There is no time" / "I have no money". "NO" can also be a complete answer: "Do you like it?" "No." General rule: NOT + verb | NO + noun. "Not" cannot stand alone before a noun ("not money" ✗), and "no" cannot be used with auxiliary verbs in verb phrases ("I no like it" ✗).

How to form it

Subject	Positive	Negative	Question
NOT (with auxiliaries)	not used	I do not like it. / It is not ready.	Do you not like it?
NOT (contractions)	not used	I don't like it. / It isn't ready.	Don't you like it?
NO (before nouns)	not used	There is no time. / I have no money.	Is there no hope?
NO (complete answer)	not applicable	"Do you like it?" "No."	not applicable
NOT vs NO	not used	I don't have money. / I have no money. (both correct)	not applicable
Emphasis with NO	not used	There is NO way! (stronger)	not applicable

• NOT: with auxiliary verbs → I do not like it. / It is not ready. / I cannot swim.
• NOT: contractions → don't (do not), isn't (is not), can't (cannot), won't (will not)
• NO: before nouns (as determiner) → no time, no money, no problem, no hope
• NO: complete answer → 'Do you like it?' 'No.' / 'Is it ready?' 'No.'
• Rule: NOT + verb | NO + noun
• NO: stronger emphasis → There is NO way! (very strong) vs There isn't a way. (neutral)
• NOT cannot stand alone before noun → 'not money' ✗ → 'no money' ✓ or 'not any money' ✓
• NO cannot be in verb phrases → 'I no like' ✗ → 'I don't like' ✓

When to use it

1
NOT — with auxiliary verbs (making verb phrases negative)
"I do not like it." / "She is not ready." / "They have not arrived." / "I will not go." / "He cannot swim."
2
NOT — contractions (informal, common in speech)
"I don't like it." / "She isn't ready." / "They haven't arrived." / "I won't go." / "He can't swim."
3
NO — before nouns (as a determiner, meaning zero/not any)
"There is no time." / "I have no money." / "There's no problem." / "We have no choice."
4
NO — complete answer to yes/no questions
"Do you like it?" "No." / "Is it ready?" "No, it isn't." / "Can you help?" "No, I can't."
5
NO — for emphasis (stronger than "not any")
"There is NO way!" (very strong) / "I have NO idea!" (emphasis) vs "I don't have an idea." (neutral)
6
NOT ANY = NO (same meaning, different structure)
"I don't have any money." = "I have no money." / "There isn't any time." = "There is no time."

Common mistakes

I no like it.

I do not like it. / I don't like it.

Use 'not' with auxiliary verbs, not 'no'. 'No' cannot be in verb phrases.

There is not time.

There is no time. OR There isn't any time.

Before nouns, use 'no' or 'not any', not just 'not'.

I have not money.

I have no money. OR I don't have any money.

Use 'no' before nouns or 'not any' with the verb.

It is no ready.

It is not ready. / It isn't ready.

Use 'not' with 'be' verbs (is, are, was, were), not 'no'.

Quick reference

NOT: with auxiliary verbs → I do not like it. / It is not ready.
NOT: contractions → don't, isn't, can't, won't, haven't
NO: before nouns → no time, no money, no problem, no hope
NO: complete answer → 'Do you like it?' 'No.'
Rule: NOT + verb | NO + noun
NOT ANY = NO → I don't have any money. = I have no money.
NO: stronger emphasis → There is NO way! (very strong)
Common errors: 'I no like' ✗ → 'I don't like' ✓ | 'not money' ✗ → 'no money' ✓

Natural conversation example

Making plans

Tom

Do you want to go to the movies?

Lisa

No, I don't want to. I have no time today.

Tom

Really? You're not free at all?

Lisa

No, I'm not. I have no free time until Friday.

Tom

That's OK. There's no problem. We can go on Friday.

Lisa

Great! I won't be busy then.

Tom

Perfect! I'll not forget to call you.

Practice Exercises

Complete with "no" or "not".

1.
I do like it.
2.
There is time.
3.
She is ready.
4.
I have money.
5.
He canswim.
6.
There's problem.

Something / Anything / Nothing / Everything All Topics

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