not */*/*/

UK [nɒt] / US [nɑt] adverb

1) used for making negatives

a) used for making a sentence, expression, or word negative

He would not listen to anything she said.

Barbara's not coming to the party.

I don't feel sorry for her.

Do not forget your promise.

They told me not to worry.

Not all children have the opportunity for pre-school education.

not even:

The teacher could not even remember my name.

The oven's not even warm yet.

b) used instead of repeating something in the negative

or not:

Are you coming with me or not?

if not:

I'll probably see you on Sunday; if not, it'll be Monday.

hope/suppose/think etc not:

"Is it going to be very expensive?" "I hope not."

2) used for showing the opposite used for showing that you mean the opposite of the word or phrase that follows

It's not much fun living with a drug addict.

I was astonished and not a little shocked by what she said.

Not surprisingly, Greg forgot to bring the key.

3) spoken used for asking questions

a) used for forming a question when you expect the answer to be "yes"

Did you not get my letter?

Isn't it a beautiful day?

That was easy, wasn't it?

b) used for forming questions that show you think someone should have done something

Shouldn't you have brought the washing in out of the rain?

Did I not tell you to be ready by ten o'clock?

4) less than an amount used before a distance, length of time, amount etc to say that something is less than that amount

We got there not five minutes before Fran arrived.

He was not three miles from home when his car broke down.

5) spoken used for reacting to information that upsets you used for showing that you are surprised, annoyed, or disappointed by something that has just happened or that you have just heard about

Oh no! Not another of Ronald's stupid ideas.

•

not only/just/merely/simply — used for emphasizing that, although something is true, something else is also true or is more important

Our apartment is not only centrally located, it's near a park too.

We need to talk about these problems, not simply assume they will resolve themselves.

not only ... but (also):

There are problems not only with the students, but also with the teachers themselves.

not only do/will/can etc:

Not only can he make people laugh, he can make them cry as well.

- not at all

- not one

- not that

See:

say I