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there was no vs there wasn't

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'There was no' is used to indicate the absence of something in the past, while 'there wasn't' is the contraction of 'there was not' and is used in informal speech or writing.

Last updated: March 21, 2024 • 2590 views

there was no

This phrase is correct and commonly used to indicate the absence of something in the past.

Use 'there was no' to state that something was completely absent in the past. It is often followed by a noun or noun phrase.

Examples:

  • There was no milk left in the fridge.
  • There was no sign of life in the abandoned house.
  • There was no way to fix the broken vase.
  • There was no time to waste on trivial matters.
  • There was no reason for her to be upset.
  • They said there was no hope.
  • Come on, we ruled him out because there was no motive.
  • He said there was no information or records.
  • Unfortunately, there was no other DNA on them.
  • Except there was no exit wound.
  • When you left, there was no fire.
  • That's when I knew there was no hope.
  • Freud said there was no cure but that perhaps he could transform unbearable unhappiness into simple human misery.
  • Your own lab said that there was no evidence.
  • Because there was no other way to see you.
  • Lab tests would have detected that there was no blood on them.
  • The thing is, there was no protection on the source computer.
  • Unfortunately, there was no surveillance video.
  • But there was no indication that the thrombosis was this bad.
  • The food was not enough to sustain life, there was no milk, there was no meat, there was no food, there was nothing.
  • Actually, there was no competition.
  • Actually, there was no thought.
  • Look, there was no conversing.
  • Told you there was no professor here.
  • Mother, there was no hussy.

Alternatives:

  • There were no
  • There is no
  • There are no
  • There will be no
  • There have been no

there wasn't

This phrase is correct and is the contraction of 'there was not'. It is commonly used in informal speech or writing.

Use 'there wasn't' in informal contexts to indicate the absence of something in the past. It is a contraction of 'there was not'.

Examples:

  • There wasn't any food left in the pantry.
  • There wasn't a single person in sight.
  • There wasn't much time to prepare for the meeting.
  • There wasn't any reason for him to be angry.
  • There wasn't a cloud in the sky.
  • But there wasn't any wind outside.
  • But there wasn't any suit of clothes.
  • No wonder there wasn't any bruising.
  • Thought there wasn't any life here.
  • And you said there wasn't any good news.
  • But there wasn't any evidence of struggle, either.
  • Come on, there wasn't time.
  • Your mother said there wasn't any fig tree.
  • Last night there wasn't time.
  • Even though there wasn't a scrap of food in the joint.
  • And there wasn't a lot of reverberation in the room.
  • But there wasn't a note.
  • They said there wasn't any room.
  • Besides, you said there wasn't anyone out here.
  • But there wasn't enough food for me.
  • But there wasn't any evidence of struggle, either.
  • No-no-no! My sources said there wasn't one.
  • It means that there wasn't a live broadcast.
  • Mel said there wasn't any food over there.
  • I mean, there wasn't ever any kind of routine.

Alternatives:

  • There was not
  • There were not
  • There is not
  • There are not
  • There will not be

Related Comparisons

there are no vs there is no there are no vs there is no there is no vs there is not there were no vs there weren't any there were no vs there was no

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