a We
can stress not.
Frankenstein
did not study medicine.
If we use the short form n't, then we can stress the auxiliary (e.g. did).
Frankenstein
didn't study medicine.
b We
can use at all to emphasize a negative.
Frankenstein
wasn't the name of the monster at all.
There was
nowhere at all to park.
Here are some other phrases with a similar meaning.
The operation was not a success by any means.
I'm not
in the least tired.
The
project is not nearly complete.
There is still a long way to go.
Her son's
visits were far from frequent.
We can use absolutely
before no and its compounds.
There was
absolutely nowhere to park.
NOTE
We can
use ever with a negative word.
No one ever takes any notice of these memos.
We can use whatsoever after nothing, none, or after no + noun.
There's nothing whatsoever we can do about it.
The people seem to have no hope whatsoever.
An
adverbial with a negative meaning can come in front position for extra
emphasis. This can happen with phrases containing the negative words no, never, neither, nor, seldom, rarely, hardly and the word only. There is inversion of subject and auxiliary.
At no time did the company break the law.
Compare: The company did not break the law at any time.
Under no circumstances should you travel alone.
Compare: You should not travel alone under any circumstances.
Never in my life have I seen such extraordinary behaviour.
Compare: I have never seen such extraordinary behaviour in my life.
The telephone had been disconnected. Nor was there any electricity.
Compare: There wasn't any electricity either.
Seldom did we have any time to ourselves.
Compare: We seldom had any time to ourselves.
Only in summer is it hot enough to sit outside.
Compare: It's only hot enough to sit outside in summer.
The pattern with inversion can sound formal and
literary, although no way is
informal.
No way am I going to let this happen.
NOTE
A phrase with not can also come in front position for emphasis. Not since his childhood had Jeffbeen back to the village.
Compare: Jeff had not been back to the village since his childhood.
