Word: Not

Pronunciation

/naʊt/

Definitions

• Adverb: Expressing negation, denial, or prohibition. It typically comes before a verb or an adjective to indicate that something is untrue or doesn’t happen. For example: “I am not going out today.” “It’s not cold outside.”
• Conjunction: Used to introduce a negative clause, often after a negative statement with ‘neither’ or ‘nor’. For example: “She isn’t studying French, nor is she studying German.”
• Pronoun: As part of a compound construction (e.g., ‘not only…but also’, ‘no…not’), it can function as a pronoun, replacing a previously mentioned idea. For example: “Not one person objected to the proposal.”

Phrases

• “Not so fast” - said when telling someone to slow down or wait.
• “Not by any means” - used to emphasize that something is definitely not true or will not happen.
• “Not to mention” - used to introduce an additional point that adds to or emphasizes what has just been said.
• “Not to be confused with” - used when comparing two similar things to clarify their differences.

Example Sentences

• Adverb: “I do not like green eggs and ham.”
• Conjunction: “She doesn’t want to go to the party, nor does she want to stay home.”
• As part of a compound construction: “Not only did he finish his work early, but he also helped his colleagues with theirs.”

Synonyms

• No
• Never
• Nought
• Un
• Non (in some languages)
• Negatively (in certain contexts)

Please note that “not” is a core element of negation in English and its usage extends beyond these specific roles, often appearing in idiomatic expressions and complex sentence structures where its meaning can vary widely.