No/one/any - Nothing/nobody, etc.

This lesson explains negative determiners and pronouns in English: how to use no, none, no one / nobody, any / anyone / anything, and nothing. These words help you express absence or non-existence of people, things or amounts. You will learn where to place them and how to choose the correct form in statements, questions and negatives.

• Use no + noun (no time, no money) to mean 'not any'.
• Use none as a pronoun to replace a noun (None is left).
• Use no one / nobody to refer to people (No one came).
• Use any / anyone / anything in questions and negatives, and nothing/nobody in positive statements that assert absence.

Focus on whether you need a determiner + noun (no + noun) or a pronoun (none, nobody, nothing).

Decide whether you need a determiner + noun (no + noun) or a standalone pronoun (none, nobody, nothing):

• Use 'no' before a noun: No clients called today.
• Use 'none' to replace a noun phrase: None were available.
• Use 'no one' or 'nobody' for people: No one arrived on time.
• Use 'any/anyone/anything' in questions and negatives: Do you have any updates? / We didn't receive anything.

Remember: 'no' modifies a noun; 'none', 'nothing', 'nobody' stand alone.

Watch for universal errors learners make with negative forms:

• Using double negatives ('I didn't receive nothing') — in standard English use 'I didn't receive anything' or 'I received nothing'.
• Putting 'none' directly before a noun (wrong: 'none employees') — 'none' replaces the noun: 'none were available'.
• Using 'any' in positive statements when 'some' is required ('I have any questions' is incorrect).
• Confusing when to use 'no' vs 'not any' — 'no' goes before a noun: 'no time', 'no budget'.
• Mixing pronouns and determiners incorrectly (e.g., 'nobody of the team' instead of 'nobody on the team' or 'no one from the team').

If you're unsure, check whether the item should stand alone (use a pronoun) or modify a noun (use 'no' + noun).