From Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary.
No I didn't read your e-mail. I'm no snoop.
Can I say:
No I didn't read your e-mail. I'm not a snoop.
If I can, what's the differences between them?
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2 Answers
In your example, they are the same. But the "no" is more general.
I have no water (OK) ... I have not a water (bad)
I have no bananas (OK) .... I have not a banana (perhaps) ... I have not a single banana (OK)
I have no idea (OK) .... I have not an idea (perhaps)
'No' is a determiner that quantifies a noun (zero snoops).
'Not' is an adverb that negates the verb.
The two are equivalent because if you are in a set that contains no snoops then you must be outside the set of all snoops.
