was not any

English grammar questions, answered by Alan

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navitasan
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was not any

Post by navitasan »

Are these sentences correct:

1) There wasn't paper in the drawer.
2) There was not paper in the drawer.

3) There weren't bullets in the gun.
4) There were not bullets in the gun.

I think they'd be quite natural if one used 'any' with them, But would one ever use these versions? Maybe just to contradict something that as already been said.

You should have taken some paper from the drawer.
There wasn't paper in the drawer!


He wanted to kill you with that gun.
There weren't bullets in the gun.


Even in these contexts the versions that don't use contraction seem strange to me.

Gratefully,
Navi
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Alan
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Re: was not any

Post by Alan »

None is acceptable.
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