Why "Not any" can't be used?

Question

Can you explain to me why in the affirmative sentence we can use “any” or “every”: But in negative sentence we use “Not every”, and we can’t use “Not any”.

1 Any / Every tie will do for this shirt.

2. Not every tie will do for this shirt.

Thank you in advance.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

'Not any' (usually 'not just any') can be used, but it carries a special meaning, so we use 'no tie will do' for the general cases.

Alex+ · Answer

As I understand “No tie” means “none”. So if I want to say than only a small number of ties will do for this shirt I can only use “Not every” or there is another way to say it?

CalifJim · Answer

Alex+Can you explain to me why in the affirmative sentence we can use “any” or “every”: But in negative sentence we use “Not every”, and we can’t use “Not any”.

every and any don't mean the same thing. not any before a noun is not a usual combination. Don't say *I need not any money. Substitute no. Say I need no money. Or negate the verb instead. Say I don't need any money.

When you begin a sentence with Not every ..., you mean It is not the case that every ....

every covers all the cases under consideration. not every negates the "all-ness", so that we are left with some. It says that at least one is not ....

4 8 6 7 3 5

Every number in this series is a one-digit number.
Not every number in this series is an even number. (At least one of the numbers is an odd number.)

any is typically used with a negated verb to show total negation.

any before a noun in an affirmative sentence signifies that it does not matter which.

Any number you choose from the series above will be acceptable. (It doesn't matter which number you choose. No matter which number you choose, it will be acceptable.)

not any is not typically used to signify that it does matter which. It is much more common to use not just any for that meaning, because if you say not any, it sounds as if you are trying to say no, but you don't know the proper way to say it.

You must choose an even number, so not just any number you choose from the series above will be acceptable. [Some numbers will be acceptable; some will be unacceptable.]

You must choose a number less than 3, so no number you choose from the series above will be acceptable. [All numbers will be unacceptable.]

Don't say this:

You must choose ..., so not any number you choose from the series above will be acceptable.
because people will be confused, and they won't know whether you mean not just any or no, and they will probably think you intended to say no, even if you didn't.

CJ

Alex+ · Answer

CalifJim, thank you very much for your explanation.

As I know “not just any” means “not ordinary” or “not like others”:
Ex. He is not just any actor. He is the best actor I’ve ever seen.
Ex. It’s not just any ring. It belonged to Queen Victoria.

Can we use “not just any” instead of “not every”? Do they have a similar meaning? If it’s so, which is more common?

CalifJim · Answer

Alex+Can we use “not just any” instead of “not every”? Do they have a similar meaning?

No. They are not the same. For example, you would not say:

It's not every ring. It belonged to Queen Victoria.

That would not make sense. No matter what ring you are talking about, it's obvious that it is not "every ring".

Think of Not every as a sentence starter that means It is not true that every .... It may or may not also have the implication of Not just any. The last sentence, for example, has no implication of Not just any because there would be nothing special about an American who likes hamburgers and apple pie.

Not every kitchen is as well equipped as hers.
= It is not true that every kitchen is as well equipped as hers.
~ Not just any kitchen is as well equipped as hers.

(A kitchen that is so well equipped is exceptional.)

Not every boy can claim to be so talented as he is.
= It is not true that every boy can claim to be so talented as he is.
~ Not just any boy can claim to be so talented as he is.
(Such talent is exceptional.)

Not every American likes hamburgers and apple pie.
= It is not true that every American likes hamburgers and apple pie.
(The American who does not like hamburgers and apple pie is the exception. It does not take an exceptional American to like those things.)
[It would be wrong to use Not just any is this case.]

CJ

Alex+ · Answer

Do I understand right that “not just any” can be used in two meanings?

1. the first meaning: “not ordinary” or “not like others”

ex. It’s not just any car. It’s the fastest car in the world.
ex. He’s not just any customer. He is our oldest customer.

2. the second meaning: “few things / few people” or “rare thing / rare man”

ex. Not just any boy can run as fast as him.
ex. Not just any hospital has a helicopter for emergency service.

Are these examples correct?

Why "Not any" can't be used?

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