Any, no & none — how they work
Core rules
- any + noun in negatives & questions: We don’t have any time. • Is there any coffee?
- no + noun with a positive verb (= not any): We have no time.
- any can be a pronoun: Is there milk? —There isn’t any.
- none is a pronoun (= zero). Not followed by a noun: How many ideas? —None.
Use with both countable (plural) and uncountable nouns: any/no chairs, any/no money.
any in affirmative = “it doesn’t matter which”
- You can come any weekend. (= whichever weekend)
- Any idiot could use this app.
- Also with compounds: We can go anywhere / ask anybody / do anything.
Equivalent forms
| Negative with any | Positive with no | Pronoun none |
|---|---|---|
| I don’t have any money. | I have no money. | I have none. |
| We didn’t get any replies. | We got no replies. | None came in. |
none of + group
- none of + the/my/these + plural noun: None of the students is / are from France.
- none of + us/you/them: None of them agreed.
After none of + plural, the verb can be singular (more formal) or plural (informal spoken English).
Compounds: anything / anybody / anywhere
- Use anything / anybody / anywhere in negatives & questions: We didn’t see anybody. • Have you been anywhere interesting?
- Use nothing / nobody / nowhere with positive verbs: We saw nobody. • There’s nothing we can do.
- In affirmatives, any- can mean “it doesn’t matter which/who/where”: Ask anybody. • Go anywhere.
Avoid double negatives
- I don’t have no money. → I don’t have any money. / I have no money.
- We didn’t see nobody. → We didn’t see anybody. / We saw nobody.
Standard English does not combine a negative verb with a no-/nobody/nothing/nowhere word.
Mini examples
- There isn’t any sugar left. / There is no sugar left. / There’s none left.
- “Do we have any questions?” — “None.”
- “Where can we eat?” — “Anywhere you like.”
- We went nowhere yesterday because of the storm.
Exercises:
Any, no, none: Quantifiers
Choose any/no/none to complete these sentences.
1
We couldn’t see
stars because of the clouds.
2
There was
milk in the fridge, so we had black coffee.
3
A: How many tickets are left? B:
. They’re sold out.
4
You can borrow
my books.
5
the students were late; everyone arrived on time.
6
Is there
chance we’ll finish early?
7
The report contained
details about costs.
8
I checked three shops and
them had the cable I need.
9
Take
cookie you like.
10
There were
messages in my inbox this morning.
Any, no, none: Quantifiers
Choose the correct option for each gap below.
1
Did you get _____ sleep last night?
A.
B.
C.
2
There was _____ milk in the fridge, so I went to the shop.
A.
B.
C.
3
How many responses did we receive? — _____ .
A.
B.
C.
4
If you have _____ questions, please email me.
A.
B.
C.
5
_____ of the students passed the test; it was too hard.
A.
B.
C.
6
I could find _____ information about the event online.
A.
B.
C.
7
Are there _____ seats available?
A.
B.
C.
8
We invited ten people, but _____ of them could come.
A.
B.
C.
9
There are _____ cookies left — sorry!
A.
B.
C.
10
I checked the shelves for onions, but found _____.
A.
B.
C.
Any, no, none: Quantifiers
Fill in the gaps with no, any, none or anything, anybody, anywhere, nothing, nobody, nowhere.
1
We didn’t see suspicious during the inspection.
2
There were witnesses who could testify.
3
We didn’t go . We stayed at home.
4
will tell me what to do. I’m an independent person.
5
Did you have visitors last Sunday?
6
A: How many messages did you get? B: . I was offline all day.
7
A: Who visited you last Sunday? B: . I was alone all day.
8
the reports were complete.
9
I’m sorry, but it’s too late. There is we can do now.
10
Please, ask. I’m not going this evening.