There is/was no plus a gerund expresses that something is impossible or cannot be known, as in there is no telling what he might do next, or announces that an activity is prohibited, as in there is no smoking in this building. The gerund must always follow directly after no, never a bare infinitive.
Grammar Rule
There is/was no + gerund has two related uses. The first expresses that something is impossible or cannot be known, often with verbs like telling, knowing, saying, denying, or stopping. The second is a short impersonal notice announcing that an activity is prohibited in a place. The gerund must always follow directly after no — never a bare infinitive.
There Is No + Gerund: Expressing Impossibility or Prohibition: Rules and Examples
| Use | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Impossibility | impossible to know/predict/control | There is no telling what he might do next. |
| Prohibition | activity not allowed here | There is no smoking in this building. |
Remember: Always follow there is/was no directly with a gerund — never a bare infinitive — and remember it can mean either impossibility or prohibition.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below using there is no plus a gerund correctly. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
C2-54 There Is No + Gerund – Impossibility/Prohibition
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does there is no telling mean?
It is impossible to know or predict, as in there is no telling what he might do next.
What does there is no smoking announce?
A prohibition, that an activity is not allowed in a place.
What form always follows there is/was no?
A gerund, never a bare infinitive.
What verbs commonly appear in the impossibility use?
Verbs like telling, knowing, saying, denying, or stopping.