【问】 (A) No man is born wise.

(B) Not a man but had tears in his eyes.

请问no man与not a man有无区别?

【答】 no+可数名词单数与not a(或not one)+可数名词单数，其基本含义是相同的，因此，常常是可以互换的。但是，not a(not one)+N有时候比no+N的语气要强的多。请对比下列实例：

1. Time and tide wait for no man. (Prov)

岁月不等人。

2. Not a soul was to be seen. (Mansfield)

连一个人影也看不到。

3. It was a declaration of rights，not a guarantee of rights. (Hazen)

这是一个权利宣言，而不是权利保障。

4. Although autumn was well advanced，not a leaf had fallen from the trees.(Mansfield)虽然已是深秋，但是树上却没有掉下一片叶子。

5. Not a word would he say. (CGEL)

他一句话也不愿说。

6. Not one bottle did we leave behind.(CGEL)

我们一个瓶子也没有留下。