"any" in negative sentences

[gorikaz]

Dear professional teachers,

In school, I have learned that "any" (not "some") should be used in negative sentences, usually with plural for countable nouns and singular for uncountable nouns.

Example: I do not have any sisters. (any + countable noun(plural))
I do not have any money. (any + uncountable noun(singular))

However, in senteces such as the ones below, do I still need to make the nouns plural?

Example 1: I cannot find any girl who is as beautiful as you.
(Should I say instead, "I cannot find any girls who are as　beautiful as you"?)
Example 2: There is not any house in this area.
(Should I say instead, "There are not any houses in this area"?)

Please explain which form ("any girl" or "any girls", "any house" or "any houses") is correct and why.

Thank you for your help in advance.

[David L.]

Example: I do not have any sisters. (any + countable noun(plural))
also: I do not have a sister.
I do not have any money. (any + uncountable noun(singular))



However, in sentences such as the ones below, do I still need to make the nouns plural?

Example 1: I cannot find any girl who is as beautiful as you.
(Should I say instead, "I cannot find any girls who are as　beautiful as you"?)
Ask yourself, in what situation would a person say each of these sentences?
Let me change the sentences slightly: " You are so wonderful. I could never find any girl nearly as beautiful as you."
"I need twelve girls for the picture calendar, one for each month. The trouble is, I can't find any girls as beautiful as you."


Example 2: There is not any house in this area.
(Should I say instead, "There are not any houses in this area"?)

"There's not any house in this area with a name anything like 'Twin Oaks'."

"As it is an industrial estate, it is not surprising that there are not any houses in this area."

[gorikaz]

David,

I think I have got what you explained to me.
Thank you for giving me examples, showing in what situation each form (singular or plural) could be used.

Well, I guess that either case can be used, and it all depends on the circumstances, right?

Thanks again for your great help!