1.140 structures used with 'no-'

Indefinite pronouns beginning with 'no-' are always used with the affirmative form of a verb, and they make the clause negative. For more information on negative statements, see paragraphs 4.43 to 4.94.

• Nobody left, nobody went away.
• There was nothing you could do, nothing at all.
• She was to see no one, to speak to nobody, not even her own children.

Note that they are sometimes used in questions. When this is the case, the answer to the question is usually expected to be 'no'.

• 'Is there nothing I can do?' 'Not a thing'.
• 'Is there nobody else?' 'Not that I know of'.