ANY

[Anonymous]

Hello teachers,

I have trouble with the usage of 'any'. Should the noun after 'any' be singular or plural? Below are some examples:

1. 'Is there any question' or 'Are there any questions?'
2. Do you have any pencil [or pencils??] (I know i should have used 'Do you have a pencil?' but I just wanna know if the usage of 'any' in this case is correct or not.)

Your help is most appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Kenneth]

I don't get it, I posted this thread AFTER logging in but why 'Guest'?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Hello teachers,

I have trouble with the usage of 'any'. Should the noun after 'any' be singular or plural? Below are some examples:

1. 'Is there any question' or 'Are there any questions?'
2. Do you have any pencil [or pencils??] (I know i should have used 'Do you have a pencil?' but I just wanna know if the usage of 'any' in this case is correct or not.)

Your help is most appreciated. Thanks.

In general, "any" is used before a singular if the noun is uncountable (in that context). "Any" takes a plural if the noun is countable.

Do you have any pencils? (pencil = countable)
Do you have any pencil? (incorrect)
Do you have any cake? (cake = uncountable when it means cake in general)
Do you have any cakes? (cake = countable when it refers to individual cakes)

Is there any question? (question is uncountable here; this is a rhetorical question; it does not refer to individual questions)
Are there any questions? (question = countable here; it refers to individual questions.

 

[RonBee]

Hello teachers,

I have trouble with the usage of 'any'. Should the noun after 'any' be singular or plural? Below are some examples:

1. 'Is there any question' or 'Are there any questions?'
2. Do you have any pencil [or pencils??] (I know i should have used 'Do you have a pencil?' but I just wanna know if the usage of 'any' in this case is correct or not.)

Your help is most appreciated. Thanks.

In general, "any" is used before a singular if the noun is uncountable (in that context). "Any" takes a plural if the noun is countable.

Do you have any pencils? (pencil = countable)
Do you have any pencil? (incorrect)
Do you have any cake? (cake = uncountable when it means cake in general)
Do you have any cakes? (cake = countable when it refers to individual cakes)

Is there any question? (question is uncountable here; this is a rhetorical question; it does not refer to individual questions)
Are there any questions? (question = countable here; it refers to individual questions.

Mike, I edited your posting to fix a typo (to avoid any possible confusion on the part of the learner).

Okay?

 

[RonBee]

I don't get it, I posted this thread AFTER logging in but why 'Guest'?

I don't know, but I used to time out every once in a while when I posted from the library.

Questions like that are Red's department. Perhaps he will post a comment.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Mike, I edited your posting to fix a typo (to avoid any possible confusion on the part of the learner).

Okay?

It's absolutely OK. Thank you. <what was it?>

 

[RonBee]

Mike, I edited your posting to fix a typo (to avoid any possible confusion on the part of the learner).

Okay?

It's absolutely OK. Thank you. <what was it?>

Well, it was "Are there any question?"

:wink:

 

[MikeNewYork]

Well, it was "Are there any question?"

:wink:

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!

 

[RonBee]

:wink:

 

[Kenneth]

Thanks so much, Mike and RonBee

 

[MikeNewYork]

Thanks so much, Mike and RonBee

You're welcome, Kenneth.