# not any

CEFR A1 · Fixed phrase

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/not-any
Updated: 2026-07-31

## Definition

you use this to say there is zero of something. It is a way to make a negative sentence about an amount.

For teachers: a negative quantifier construction used with uncountable or plural countable nouns to indicate a total absence. It functions as the negative counterpart to 'some' in declarative statements.

## Examples

- There is not any milk in the fridge.
- I looked for the documents in the drawer, but there were not any left.
- The investigation revealed that there was not any evidence to support the claims made by the anonymous whistleblower.

## Pitfalls

- Not "There is not no milk." but "There is not any milk." — avoid double negatives; 'not' must be paired with 'any' rather than another negative word like 'no'.

## Usage notes

- usually follows a negative verb and precedes a noun; 'no' is a more concise alternative.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'no' to show that 'not any' requires a negative auxiliary verb while 'no' takes a positive one.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.