Difference between NO and NOT

 

No or not

Not

We use not after be, do or have to make a sentence negative.
  • It is not raining.
  • I do not like fish.
  • I have not finished my work.
  • We have not got a television.
We can use not to form the negative of modal verbs.
  • I can't go.
  • You mustn't be late.
We use not to make an adjective or adverb negative.
  • Not surprisingly, he was found guilty.
We use not before a noun that has an article (a,an, the).
  • There is not a cat outside the door.
  • This is not the right way.
We can use not with much, many, any or enough.
  • ‘Is there any coffee left?’ ‘Not much.’
  • Not many people have heard the news.
  • There is not any reason to doubt his story.
We use not to make any other phrase or clause negative.
  • ‘Does the city tour run all year round?’ ‘Not in winter’
We can use not after or to express the negative possibility of a word, phrase or clause.
  • Do you know the truth or not?
  • Believe it or not, they're getting married.
  • Are you coming with me or not?
We use not after verbs hope, expect, believe, etc. to give a negative reply.
  • ‘Is there enough room for me?’ ‘I’m afraid not.’

No

We use no to give negative answers.
  • ‘Do you have a client named John?’ ‘No.'
We use no before a noun without an article to mean ‘not one’; ‘not any’; ‘not a’
  • There's no wine left.
  • We have no time to lose.
No+noun is a stronger way of saying not any+noun.
  • There are no newspapers left in the shop.
  • There are not any newspapers left in the shop.
We don't use no with any.
We use no to say that something is not allowed.
  • No smoking!
  • No Entry!

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