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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

no (not any) + countable noun: singular or plural?

I wonder whether it's acceptable to use "no" (or "not any") as a quantifier before a countable noun in the singular, as in the sentence "There is no apple in the basket.". Or do I have to say "There are no apples in the basket."? Another example might be "No mouse was connected to the computer." vs. "No mice were connected...".

Thanks.

Jan
  

Top answer

I don't think that you can say: " There is no apple in the basket. " Unless you mean: " There isn't even a single apple in the basket" . Otherwise it sounds awkward to me.

— YoHf

  • I don't think that you can say: " There is no apple in the basket.
  • " Unless you mean: " There isn't even a single apple in the basket" .
  • Otherwise it sounds awkward to me.
  • [Y]
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1 Answers
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I don't think that you can say: "There is no apple in the basket." Unless you mean: "There isn't even a single apple in the basket". Otherwise it sounds awkward to me.

[Y]
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