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Any

Any is a determiner. It suggests an indefinite quantity or number. It is used when it is not important to say how much/many we are thinking of.

  • Is there any water in the bottle?
  • Have you got any friends?
  • Have they got any children?

Any is often used in questions and negatives clauses, and in other cases where there is an idea of doubt or negation.

  • Are there any witnesses?
  • Do you need any help?
  • I haven't got any money.
  • I have hardly any food in the larder.
  • You never give me any help.

Any is also common after if

  • If you need any help, let me know.
Any, no, not any

Note that any alone does not have a negative meeting. It is negative only when it is used with not.

  • See that you don't do any damage. (NOT See that you do any damage.)

No means the same as not any, but is more emphatic.

  • He has got no friends. (More emphatic than He hasn’t got any friends.)
Any and Any of

Before a pronoun or a noun with a determiner (the, this, my, your etc.) we use any of.

  • Do any of these books belong to you?
  • I don't think any of us want to work tomorrow.
  • She doesn't like any of my friends.

Note that when any of is followed by a plural subject, the verb can be singular or plural.

  • If any of your friends is interested, let us know. (formal)
  • If any of your friends are interested, let us know. (informal)
Any with singular countable nouns

Any is the plural equivalent of a/an. It is often used before plural and uncountable nouns.

  • They recently bought a new car.
  • Have they got any cars?

But note that any can be used before a singular countable noun with the meaning of it doesn't matter who/which/what.

  • Can you recite any poem by heart?
  • Do you know any cardiologist here?

With this meaning any is common in affirmative clauses as well.

  • Come any day you like.
  • There is some risk in any project.

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