no + nounUse no directly before the noun. No article comes after no.
No and None
A2Use no before a noun, none when the noun is not repeated, and none of before a specific group.
What you'll learn
- Use no directly before a noun phrase.
- Use none when the noun is already clear.
- Use none of before a known group.
- Choose no, none, or none of from what comes next.
Structure
noneUse none alone when the noun is already known from the question or context.
none of + specific groupUse none of before a known or limited group, not before a general noun.
Build a sentence
Pattern
Example
nomoney
There is no money in the drawer.
A noun comes next, so use no + noun.
When to use
Zero amount
Use no + noun to say that something is absent: no milk, no tickets, no reason.
Short answer
Use none when the noun is understood already. How many cookies are left? None.
Known group
Use none of when you talk about a specific set: none of the emails, none of them, none of my friends.
Markers
no timeno problemnonenone of themnone of the students
Common mistakes
Wrong
I don't have no money today.
Correct
I have no money today.
No already makes the noun phrase negative. Do not add another negative before it here.
Wrong
None students were ready.
Correct
No students were ready.
Use no before a noun. None cannot go directly before students.
Wrong
None the lights were on.
Correct
None of the lights were on.
Before a specific group with the, use none of.
Wrong
No them could help.
Correct
None of them could help.
Before them, us, or similar pronouns, use none of, not no.
Wrong
None money was left in the wallet.
Correct
No money was left in the wallet.
If a noun comes next, use no. None stands alone.
Common misconceptions
❝ None is just a stronger version of no, so you can use it everywhere. ❞
The choice depends on the pattern: no + noun, none alone, none of + specific group.
❝ After no, I still need a or the before the noun. ❞
No already takes that position before the noun, so do not add another article after it.
Skills in this rule (5)
NO_PLUS_NOUNw5Use no before a noun to make a noun phrase negative
Put no directly before a noun or noun phrase: no time, no money, no idea. Do not add not before the same noun phrase.
NONE_STANDS_ALONEw5Use none when the noun is not repeated
Use none as a short answer or as a pronoun when the noun is already clear from context. Do not put a noun directly after none.
NONE_OF_GROUPw5Use none of before a specific group
Use none of before the, these, those, my, our, them, us and similar words: none of the books, none of them. This points to a known group, not a general noun.
COUNTABLE_AND_UNCOUNTABLE_WITH_NOw4Use no with singular, plural, and uncountable nouns
No works with all noun types: no problem, no problems, no water. The noun form depends on meaning, not on no itself.
CHOOSE_NO_OR_NONE_BY_PATTERNw5Choose no, none, or none of from the sentence pattern
Use no before a noun, none alone, and none of before a specific group. Look at what comes next to choose the right form.