ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: there is not/ there is no

Goodman — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 19:14:55 GMT

Lcchang wrote:

My friend asked me why people say "There is no difference between.... ", not "There is not difference between...". I don't know how to explain. Please advise.

LCChang

Hi Lcchang,

Just remember this rule of thumb.

There is "no ... difference between...."

There isn't "any difference between.."

Re: there is not/ there is no

Lcchang — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 18:50:27 GMT

CalifJim wrote:
difference is a countable noun. Countable nouns in the singular require a determiner. no is a determiner. not is not a determiner. not negates the verb.

So you can have the positive statement There is with the determiner no and noun the difference.
Or you can have the negative statement There is not with the determiner any and noun difference.

But you can't have the negative There is not and then add difference without a determiner.

CJ

Thank you CJ. I love your answer the best. Thanks to others too.

LCChang

Re: there is not/ there is no

CalifJim — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:10:19 GMT

difference is a countable noun. Countable nouns in the singular require a determiner. no is a determiner. not is not a determiner. not negates the verb.

So you can have the positive statement There is with the determiner no and noun the difference.
Or you can have the negative statement There is not with the determiner any and noun difference.

But you can't have the negative There is not and then add difference without a determiner.

CJ

Re: there is not/ there is no

Ant_222 — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:43:58 GMT

The overall philosophy of this phrase is like that of the use of "nothing":

1. I found nothing. //The guy found something. It's nothing.
2. I didn't find anything.

So, the presence of "nothing" renders any other presence not present.

The presence of the "lack of difference" makes the presence of any difference impossible.

"no difference" acts as a whole word: "nodiffrence", just like "nothing" has originated from "no thing".

1. There is no difference.
2. There isn't any difference.

1. I have no weapon
2. I don't have (any) weapon

Re: there is not/ there is no

Yoong Liat — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:28:47 GMT

Lcchang wrote:

My friend asked me why people say "There is no difference between.... ", not "There is not difference between...". I don't know how to explain. Please advise.

You can't say 'There is NOT food left."
Also, you can't say "I have NOT money left."

I hope my sentences will help you to explain why in certain sentences 'no' is required.

there is not/ there is no

Lcchang — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:39:42 GMT

My friend asked me why people say "There is no difference between.... ", not "There is not difference between...". I don't know how to explain. Please advise.

LCChang