There isn't any + singular

[English Freak]

I think it's grammatically correct to use a singular noun after "there isn't any ...", isn't it?
(e.g. There isn't any chair in this palace.)
I would like to know how it is grammatically justified.
Please provide me with a good reference if possible.

 

[bhaisahab]

I think it's grammatically correct to use a singular noun after "there isn't any ...", isn't it?
(e.g. There isn't any chair in this palace.)
I would like to know how it is grammatically justified.
Please provide me with a good reference if possible.

Use "There isn't any..." for non-count nouns and "There aren't any..." for count nouns.
"There isn't any milk"; "There aren't any biscuits".

 

[Raymott]

I'd add to bhai's:
An alternative for "There aren't any chairs in this palace" is "There are no chairs in this palace".

Sometimes, if you are talking about only one item, you might see the construction you wrote:
A: Go into the room and sit on the chair. (One chair is referenced)
B: (Goes into room) There isn't any chair in this room!

C: Place Nut B on Bolt A
D: There isn't a/any Nut B here. / There's no Nut B here.

 

[~Mav~]

*** NOT A TEACHER ***

I would like to know how it is grammatically justified.
Please provide me with a good reference if possible.

Our esteemed fellow-member, TheParser (whose responses are always a pleasure to read :up: ), dreamed up an excellent example last November. For me, his post is a reference (I bookmarked that thread), so I would like to share it with you:

***** NOT ***** A ***** TEACHER *****


Would someone please tell me whether I have understood the proper

use of this unusual question? If I have, I shall credit those who taught

me; if I have not, I shall delete the post. (Dido: It is necessary to

stress the word "any." That is, you must say it louder than the

other words. I used bold (black) type to remind you.)

*****


AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE WORLD PEACE PARK

Tom: Good morning, officers. Could you tell me whether there are

any dogs in the park now? If there are, I must leave, for I am afraid

of dogs.

Officer Smith: Well, sir, I did see three large dogs about an hour ago.

Officer Jones: Oh, their owners took them home a half hour ago.

Officer Smith: There you go, sir. There are no dogs in the park. Please

come in.

Officer Johnson: Sorry, guys! But I saw a little dog about ten

minutes ago.

Officers Smith and Jones: Oh, really?

Tom: Officers, please! I have to know. Is there ANY dog in the park

right now? If there is ANY dog ( = even one dog), I will not come in.

For better understanding Parser's example, I also suggest that you read the whole thread I hope you find this useful.