Any

[jack]

I don't get it. 'Any' is plural right?

1. If there is any problem, don't panic. (How come this is correct? Isn't 'any' plural so doesn't problem needs to be 'plural' as well?)
2. If there are any problems, don't panic.

Any is not plural. Any means.... wow this one's hard to explain :( Many is the plural form of any. It's not a perfect form however, as "any" can be used to describe one or several objects as well.

So, while any can mean "any one" or "any number of..." many can only mean "several of..."

-Nah-

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by jack

I don't get it. 'Any' is plural right?

1. If there is any problem, don't panic. (How come this is correct? Isn't 'any' plural so doesn't problem needs to be 'plural' as well?)
2. If there are any problems, don't panic.

In addition,

1. If there's any problem (i.e., any one kind/type of problem),....
2. If there're any problems (i.e., more than one problem),....

[jack]

Thanks.

So 'any' can be plural or singular right?

Are these correct? What do t hese mean?
1. This is suited for any occasion.
2. This is suited for any occasions.

3. This is suited for any one of the occasion. (Is this wrong?)
4. This is suited for any one of the occasions.

5. Can I have any candy?
6. Can I have any candies?
7. You can have any candy you want.
8. You can have any candies you want.

[jack]

Can someone help me with the post above? Thanks.

Are these correct? What do these mean?
1. It can be any brands?
2. It can be any brand?

3. Can it be any brand for your TV? (What is 'it' referring to?)

[jack]

Can someone help me with the post above? Thanks.

What do these mean? When you're asking someone a question, does it matter which one you use?
1. Do you have any cars?
2. Do you have car?

[Casiopea]

1. This is suited for any occasion. (OK: any one specific occasion)
2. This is suited for any occasions. (Not OK)
3. This is suited for any one of the occasion. (Not OK; any one of (plural noun))
4. This is suited for any one of the occasions. (OK)

5. Can I have any candy? (Try, Can't I have any candy?) OK 'candy' is a mass noun here
6. Can I have any candies? (Try, Can't I have any candies?) OK 'candy' is a count noun here
7. You can have any candy you want. (any one candy, just one; count noun)
8. You can have any candies you want. (all candies; count noun)

[Casiopea]

1. It can be any brands? (Not OK)
2. It can be any brand? (OK)
3. Can it be? 'it' refers to a previously mentioned noun or statement.

Max: The line has been busy for an hour.
Pat: Can it be? (it = the line has been busy for an hour)

[Casiopea]

1. Do you have any cars? (OK)
2. Do you have car? (Try, "a car")

[jack]

Thanks for answering my previous posts.

1. It can be any brands? (Not OK)

Why isn't this okay? I looked 'brands' up in a dictionary and it says it is a count noun?

2. This is suited for any occasions. (Not OK)

Why isn't this okay? I searched 'occasions' in a dictionary as well and it says it is a count noun?

1. Do you have any cars? (OK)
2. Do you have a car? (Try, "a car")

When asking someone a question, does it matter which one I use?

This is incorrect right?
1. Do you have any car? (car=count noun?)