no与not any有何区别?

有读者问:

(1)There isn't any bread.

(2)There is no bread.

这两句有何不同?

这两个句子在意义上没有什么区别。句(1)的not any多用于一般谈话;句(2)的no则较为正式。这种区别亦适用于复数名词,如:

(3)There aren't any buses after midnight.

(4)There are no buses after midnight.

但请注意在句子中开头用否定词时则须用no,不可用not any,如:

(5)No man is born wise. (不可用not any man)

(6)No department stores open on Sundays.

(不可用not any department stores)

顺便提及,句(1)如有上下文,亦可改作:

(7)There is none.