Any good

Hello Hanuman

'Paco is not any good any more' means 'Paco is of no use any more'.
You can take this 'good' as a kind of non-count noun;something good or somthing useful.

paco

1. The two are different semantically. Isolated, "I'm not any good" seems strange to me. It's often used with "at something". "I'm not any good at solving algebraic equations." "I'm not any good at caring for young children."
"I'm not good" can mean "I'm bad", "I'm evil".

2. "good" is a noun here. But if someone else says it's an adjective, I wouldn't bother to defend

Hi CJ,

re. I'm not any good at... What makes you think 'good' is a noun instead of an adjective? Please explain.

no = not any

Q1. So, 'I'm not any good at ...' = 'I'm no good at ...' Correct?

Q2. 'I'm no good at ..' Is 'good' a noun or an adjective? Why? Please explain.

Q3. Can 'I'm no good' mean 'I'm not good'(i.e. I'm bad/evil)? [only if 'I'm

Probably because "any" is a determiner. Determiners occur with nouns, not with adjectives.

I'm not happy.
*I'm not any happy.

You aren't serious, are you?
*You aren't any serious, are you?

This suit isn't new.
*This suit isn't any new.

"not to be any good" is an idiomatic expression. In such cases, anything can happen!

CJ

Hi CJ,

Someone suggests 'good' be an adjective in 'I'm not any good at something' and 'any' is an adverb rather than a determiner. What do you think?

e.g. I can't run any faster. any - an adverb
e.g. Are you feeling any better? any - an adverb
___________________

Please answer Q1-3.

Thanks,

Interesting analyses. I don't really know. Let's wait for others to give their opinions.

Hello Guest

My dictionary says about the matter you are arguing as follows in the entry of 'GOOD' as follows.

Significance (II). The neuter adjective used absolutely, passing into a noun: That which is good.
(5.g)
colloq. to be any good, some good, no good: to be of any use, some use, no use. Also of persons: to be no good = ‘to be a bad lot’, to be worthless. Also