Page 387 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

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non-affirmative (or ·non-assertive') words
There are some words that are not often used in affirmative sentences - for example any, anybody, ever, yet. When we affirm or assert (that is, when we say that something is true) we normally use other words - for example some, somebody, once, sometimes, already. Compare:
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Non-affirmative words are common not only in questions and negative sentences, but in other cases where we are not making affirmative statements
- for example in if-clauses, after comparisons, and together with adverbs, verbs, prepositions, adjectives and determiners that have a negative kind of meaning.
Let me know ifyou have any trouble.
I wonder if she found anything.
She writes better than anybody I know. He seldom says anything.
I've hardly been anywhere since Christmas.
He denied that he had ever seen her.
Please forget that I ever told you anything about it. I'd rather do it without anybody's help.
It's difficult to understand anything he says.
Few people have ever seen her laugh.
For infonnation about panicular non·affinnative words, check in the Index to find the entries for the words in Question.
not and no
To make a word, expression or clause negative, we use not.
Not surprisingly, we missed the train. (NOT ,".'-6 SttFfJrisingly ...)
The students went on strike, but not the teachers. {NOT ••• but 11;6 the
teaenet'3. }
I can see you tomo"ow, but not on Thursday. I have not received his answer.
We can use no with a noun or -ing form to mean 'not any', or 'not alan'. No teachers went on strike. {= There weren't any teachers on strike.} I've got no Thursdays free this term. (= I haven't got any Thursdays ...) I telephoned, but there was no answer. {= There wasn't an answer.}
NO SMOKING
Sometimes sentences constructed with verb + not and no + noun have similar meanings. The structure with no is usually more emphatic.
There wasn't an answer. I There was no answer.
- Somebody telephoned. Did anybody telephone?
- I've bought you something.
I haven't bought you anything.
- She's already here. Is she here yet?
- I sometimes go to the theatre. Do you ever go to the theatre? - I met the Prime Minister once.
Have you ever met the Prime Minister?
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