Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Before you start
Turn the command Don’t park here into a short notice.
See one possible response
No parking.
You show a new visitor around a fictional community centre using short written notices.
What you will practise
- Understand a short no notice.
- Understand who a notice with only includes.
- Explain the notice in a full sentence.
Answer first. Then check one model. Keep the meaning and the target pattern.
No + noun or -ing
Notices often use no with a noun or an -ing activity: No entry; No parking. They are short forms, not ordinary full sentences. In the stated setting, No parking tells people not to park there.
No food in the computer room.
No parking by this door.
A group + only
Staff only limits access to the named group. Members only works the same way in a simple access notice. It is not the same as No staff: one permits staff and the other excludes them in the stated notice.
Staff only beyond this point.
Members only in this room.
Expand, do not translate word by word
Explain the meaning in a full sentence: You must not park here; Only staff can enter. Use the place and situation given. A short notice may omit information, so do not invent times, reasons or exceptions that are not supplied.
No bags on seats means Please don’t put bags on the seats.
Tickets only at reception means Tickets are available only at reception.
Guided practice
Say or write your answer first. Then compare the meaning and grammar with the model.
1. No phones during the talk. Give a full instruction.
Compare a model and explanation
Please don’t use phones during the talk.
The expansion states the activity restriction in context.
Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.
2. Staff only; No staff. Which admits staff as the named group?
Compare a model and explanation
Staff only.
Only selects staff; no excludes them.
Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.
3. ___ parking by the gate. Parking is forbidden in this fictional site.
Compare a model and explanation
No
No + -ing forms the short prohibition.
Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.
4. No enter or No entry?
Compare a model and explanation
No entry.
Entry is the noun used in this notice.
Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.
5. Members only. A person is not a member. Does the notice include them?
Compare a model and explanation
No.
The stated access group is members.
Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.
6. No bags on seats means You must put bags on seats.
Compare a model and explanation
It means you must not put bags on seats.
The original explanation reverses the restriction.
Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.
7. No parking. Does this notice tell you the reason?
Compare a model and explanation
No.
It states a restriction, not its reason.
Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.
8. Make a short notice for a quiet room where food is not allowed. Then explain it fully.
Compare a model and explanation
No food. Please don’t eat in this room.
The notice and explanation express the same practical restriction.
Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.
A short conversation
Listen to the exchange, then take one role. The speaker labels identify roles; do not narrate them.
Open the conversation transcript
Visitor: Can I use this door?
Host: That notice says Staff only. Visitors use the next door.
Visitor: And what does No bags on seats mean?
Host: Please put your bag on the floor, not on a chair.
Listening checks
Listen to each extract, then choose the best answer. These three questions have their own score.
Answer key with explanations
Who is included by the notice?
Members.: The spoken notice names members as the permitted group.
Compare all choices
- All visitors.: Only narrows the group.
- Members.: The spoken notice names members as the permitted group.
- Nobody at all.: It does include members.
What should the driver avoid?
Parking beside the gate.: The spoken restriction identifies that location.
Compare all choices
- Walking through the building.: Walking is not discussed.
- Using any car anywhere.: The message gives a particular place, not a universal ban.
- Parking beside the gate.: The spoken restriction identifies that location.
What is explicitly restricted?
Food during the performance.: This is the wording supplied.
Compare all choices
- Food during the performance.: This is the wording supplied.
- All drinks everywhere.: The message says drinks are not mentioned.
- Entering the performance.: Entry is not prohibited by this notice.
Mastery quiz
Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.
Answer key with explanations
What is the meaning of No parking in the stated car-park setting?
Do not park here.: The notice prohibits the activity.
Compare all choices
- Do not park here.: The notice prohibits the activity.
- Please park here.: This reverses the meaning.
- Parking is required.: No expresses prohibition, not obligation to do it.
Which notice selects staff as the access group?
Staff only.: Only restricts access to the named group.
Compare all choices
- Staff no only not.: This is not a meaningful standard notice.
- Staff only.: Only restricts access to the named group.
- No staff.: This excludes staff.
Choose a usual noun notice.
No entry.: Entry is the noun in this notice.
Compare all choices
- No enter.: Enter is a verb, not the noun needed here.
- No entered to.: The form does not make the target notice.
- No entry.: Entry is the noun in this notice.
No bags on seats. Which explanation preserves the meaning?
Don’t put bags on the seats.: The action and location match the notice.
Compare all choices
- Don’t put bags on the seats.: The action and location match the notice.
- Nobody may carry a bag anywhere.: That adds a much wider restriction.
- Bags must be on seats.: This reverses the restriction.
What is true about short notices?
They can omit ordinary sentence elements while giving a clear message.: Their compressed format is conventional.
Compare all choices
- Every notice must contain a subject and a finite verb.: Notices such as No entry do not.
- They can omit ordinary sentence elements while giving a clear message.: Their compressed format is conventional.
- Missing a verb makes every notice meaningless.: Their context and wording can make them clear.
A notice says Students only. Which person fits the named group?
A student.: This is the group selected by only.
Compare all choices
- Nobody.: It does allow the named group.
- Any passer-by automatically.: The notice is restricted.
- A student.: This is the group selected by only.
A notice gives no reason. What should an explanation avoid?
Inventing a reason as though it were stated.: The missing information is not supplied by the grammar.
Compare all choices
- Inventing a reason as though it were stated.: The missing information is not supplied by the grammar.
- Explaining the restriction itself.: That is useful and supported.
- Naming the group written on the notice.: That information is available.
Choose a full explanation of No photography in this room.
Please don’t take photos in this room.: This expands the noun notice into an instruction.
Compare all choices
- Photos are compulsory here.: This reverses the notice.
- Please don’t take photos in this room.: This expands the noun notice into an instruction.
- Please take photos of every room.: This changes the action and scope.
Use it in your own words
Explain a notice
Choose two fictional notices: No food, No parking or No photography. Give complete explanations.
Reveal a possible response
No food means please don’t eat here. No photography means please don’t take photos.
- Preserve the negative meaning
- Use complete clauses
Context can change the best expansion.
Who can enter?
Explain a Members only room to a member and a non-member.
Reveal a possible response
Members can enter this room. You’re not a member, so please wait here.
- Identify the permitted group
- Keep the explanation respectful
Do not invent real access rights.
Put it all together
Welcome someone to a fictional makerspace. Explain one activity restriction, one group-only room and one practical alternative.
Reveal a possible response
Please don’t eat near the tools. The small office is staff only. You can use the tables in the main room, and you’re allowed to eat in the café.
- Expand both notice types
- State an alternative
- Retrieve allowed to
All rules are invented for language practice.
Take it with you
No can introduce a prohibited activity or thing. Only can limit a group. Explain a notice without adding information it does not contain.