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# not

adverb (not; short form n't)

«not» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Not makes a sentence say no, or the opposite: It is not cold. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#m1)
2. Not can go before a word to say «no» to just that word: not quite, not me, not yet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#m2)
3. «Not … any» means none at all. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#m3)
4. «Not only … but also» adds a second, bigger point. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#m4)
5. (casual) «Not!» said after a sentence (joking, US) takes it back: «I love homework — not!»; «not bad» often means quite good; «not even» means it is not at all true. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#m5)
6. (rough) «Not a chance», «not on your life», «not bloody likely» (UK) are blunt refusals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#m6)
7. (formal) The exam voice says «by no means», «in no case», «under no circumstances», «it is not the case that», «fails to», «other than». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#m7)

### In the lessons

«not quite» marks a wrong answer; «does not mean» warns about a cue («Here the word «more» does not mean adding»); «did not eat any» means nothing changed; in everyday life «not yet», «not at all», «why not?», «not bad»; in safety «Do not touch», «under no circumstances»; in casual talk «not even», joking «— not!»; in rough talk «not a chance»; in the exam voice «Which of the following is NOT …», «it is not the case that»

### Examples

- Not quite: 2. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#x1)
- Here the word «more» does not mean adding … [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#x2)
- Tom did not eat any of the 6 cakes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#x3)
- I am not sleepy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#x4)
- It's not fair! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#x5)
- Do not run near the pool. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#x6)
- «Can I have a cookie?» «Not now.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#x7)
- The bus has not come yet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#x8)
- That is not my bag. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#x9)
- «Will you share?» «Not a chance.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#x10)
- «How was the test?» «Not bad, got 18.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#x11)
- Which of the following statements is not consistent with the established facts concerning the boiling of water? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#x12)
- One swallow does not make summer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/#x13)

### Note

«does not mean adding» warns that a usual cue does not work here. Trap: «did not eat any» means nothing changed. In an exam «Which of the following is NOT …» asks for the one wrong statement; read the «not» before choosing. A joking «— not!» at the end flips the whole sentence. Short forms: isn't, aren't, don't, doesn't, didn't, can't, won't. Do not mix «not» with «knot» (a tie in a rope): they sound the same.

## In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Much of the Torah's law is "thou shalt not," which tradition counts as prohibitions. In the primary lessons: «not quite» marks a wrong answer; «does not mean» warns about a cue («Here the word «more» does not mean adding»); «did not eat any» means nothing changed; in everyday life «not yet», «not at all», «why not?», «not bad»; in safety «Do not touch», «under no circumstances»; in casual talk «not even», joking «— not!»; in rough talk «not a chance»; in the exam voice «Which of the following is NOT …», «it is not the case that»

### Examples

- It shall not be baked with leaven. (Torah LEV.6.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/not/#x1)
- Notwithstanding the sons of Korah died not. (Torah NUM.26.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/not/#x2)
- Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. (Torah DEU.14.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/not/#x3)
- So his strength was not known. (Prophets JDG.16.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/not/#x4)
- Is it not wheat harvest to-day? (Prophets 1SA.12.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/not/#x5)
- But he told not his father. (Prophets 1SA.14.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/not/#x6)

### Note

«does not mean adding» warns that a usual cue does not work here. Trap: «did not eat any» means nothing changed. In an exam «Which of the following is NOT …» asks for the one wrong statement; read the «not» before choosing. A joking «— not!» at the end flips the whole sentence. Short forms: isn't, aren't, don't, doesn't, didn't, can't, won't. Do not mix «not» with «knot» (a tie in a rope): they sound the same.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «not» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/not/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«not» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/not.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «not» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/not/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«not» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/not.html) on Mova free.