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All, no
Introduction
We interviewed all the candidates last week but we had no luck.
Definition
All and no are quantifiers.
We use all to talk about the whole amount or quantity of something. We use no to refer to 'not any' or 'not one'.
Construction
Here are some examples:
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All |
+ singular noun
+ plural countable noun
+ uncountable noun
+ 'the', possessive adjective or determiner
without a noun
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I was in Paris all week.
All children like sweets.
All information will be available.
All the invitations are ready. All my colleagues are English. All these computers are broken.
All is well. |
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No |
+ singular noun
+ plural countable noun
+ uncountable noun
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No child likes bedtime.
No children like bedtime.
No information is available. |
Uses
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| Uses | Examples |
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All |
To talk about a whole amount
To talk about every person or object
To mean 'the only thing(s)'
With time periods |
We drank all the water.
We ate all the sandwiches.
All I ate yesterday was a sandwich - I'm so hungry.
I was busy all day.
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No |
To mean 'not any' or 'not one'
When something is forbidden |
There is no milk in the fridge. There are no men in this team.
"No smoking in this building."
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Examples
I'm afraid there's no easy solution to this.
"How do you like your tea?" "Milk, no sugar, thanks."
There's no swimming here.
All I did this morning was check my email. I had absolutely no time to start this report!
He ate all the cake.
I think we have all we need now - let's start.
He was awake all night.