any
any — determiner
1. put before plural or uncountable nouns when you ask, deny, or wonder whether the
put before plural or uncountable nouns when you ask, deny, or wonder whether there is even one thing or even a small amount.
We didn't have any rice left for dinner after the storm.
negative: any + uncountable noun
Did Wen buy any stamps at the post office this morning?
question: any + plural noun
If any students miss the bus, call the school office.
conditional: any + plural noun
The museum does not allow any food inside the gallery.
Please tell me whether any hotel rooms are still free tonight.
whether-clause with any
- any money
- any problems
- any food
- if any
- any of the rooms
- no
states zero directly instead of leaving the idea inside a negative sentence
Grammar Patterns
any + plural noun
any + uncountable noun
any of + determiner + noun
Usage Note
Common in negative statements, neutral questions, and clauses with 'if' or 'whether'. 'Not any' often means the same as 'no', but 'no' is usually more direct.
Common Mistakes
2. put before a singular count noun to say one person or thing from the group is fi
put before a singular count noun to say one person or thing from the group is fine, because the exact choice does not matter.
Choose any seat near the window if you want more light.
free choice: any + singular noun
Any child can learn this card game in ten minutes.
any + singular noun for a general statement
Take any key from the bowl and open the back door.
You may ask any doctor in this clinic for a second opinion.
Press any button to start the washing machine.
instruction with free-choice any
- any seat
- any child
- any key
- any doctor
- any button
- particular
points to one specific choice rather than leaving the choice open
Grammar Patterns
any + singular countable noun
any + noun + can
any + noun + may
Usage Note
Common in offers, instructions, and condition-like statements where the speaker gives open choice. Distinguish from determiner/1, which is about whether even one item exists.
Common Mistakes
any — adverb
1. even a little, especially in forms such as 'not any better', 'any less', or 'is
even a little, especially in forms such as 'not any better', 'any less', or 'is it any good?'
I don't feel any better after the medicine from Dr. Lin.
any + comparative in a negative
Was the soup any good after sitting out all afternoon?
question pattern: any good
This bridge isn't any wider than it was before last year's flood.
Can you hear the singer any more clearly from this row?
My ankle didn't hurt any less after the long train ride.
any + less in a negative
- any better
- any good
- any wider
- any less
- any longer
- at all
often gives the same meaning, especially in negative statements
- in the least
more formal and more emphatic
Grammar Patterns
not + any + comparative
any + comparative + than
any + adjective in questions
Usage Note
Most often seen with comparatives such as 'better', 'worse', 'longer', and 'less', or in question patterns like 'any good'. It is much less natural before a plain adjective on its own.
Common Mistakes
any — adjective
1. used with a noun to mean that one suitable or available example is enough, witho
used with a noun to mean that one suitable or available example is enough, without choosing a special one.
Use any clean jar from the kitchen for the peach jam.
available option: any + singular noun
The guide said any bus from this stop goes to the night market.
Call me at any hour if the baby gets a fever.
fixed pattern: at any + time noun
You can pay with any card that has your name on it.
The nurse will use any empty room for the checkup.
- any road
- any hour
- any card
- any room
- any clean jar
- particular
selects one specific item instead of leaving the choice open
Grammar Patterns
any + singular noun
at/by/with + any + noun
Usage Note
Often follows prepositions or verbs that talk about means, route, time, place, or tool. Distinguish from adjective/2, which makes a wider statement about a class in general.
2. used with a noun to include every kind, amount, or member that fits the statemen
used with a noun to include every kind, amount, or member that fits the statement, without naming a particular one.
Any student with a ticket may enter the hall tonight.
general rule with any + singular noun
The shop replaces any broken desk lamp within thirty days of purchase.
Any fresh fruit will add color to Mia's lunch box.
any + uncountable or class noun
Any kind of lettuce grows well in Uncle Chen's warm valley garden.
any kind of + noun for a whole class
Any mistakes on this form will delay your passport.
- any student
- any broken lamp
- any fresh fruit
- any vegetables
- any mistakes
- certain
limits the statement to specific named members
Grammar Patterns
any + singular noun
any + plural noun
any + uncountable noun
Usage Note
Common when giving rules, guarantees, or wide statements about a whole type of thing. Context decides whether it feels close to 'every', 'all kinds of', or 'no matter which'.
Common Mistakes
any — pronoun
1. one or more people, with no need to say which people they are.
one or more people, with no need to say which people they are.
If any of the guests arrive early, seat them near the piano.
any of + noun phrase for people
Did any of you see a blue umbrella by the door?
any of + object pronoun
Were any of the nurses still awake after the night shift?
After soccer practice, Coach Lee asked whether any wanted extra shooting drills.
if any + plural verb for people
If any are hurt after the bus crash, call Dr. Wang at once.
- any of you
- any of the guests
- if any
- whether any
- no one
means zero people
Grammar Patterns
if any + plural verb
any of + pronoun
whether any + verb
Usage Note
Very often used when the group is already known from context: 'any of the guests', 'any of you', 'if any are hurt'. When it stands alone for people, a plural verb is common.
Common Mistakes
2. one or more things, without naming the particular object or objects.
one or more things, without naming the particular object or objects.
I checked the drawer for spare batteries, but I couldn't find any inside.
pronoun any after an omitted noun
If any of these are broken, put them on my desk.
any of + demonstrative pronoun
We baked twelve cookies, but Leo didn't save any for Grandpa.
If you borrow paintbrushes, return any to Ms. Lin by Friday.
any + relative clause
Rosa lifted the marble jar and guessed there weren't any inside.
- find any
- any of these
- save any
- return any
- nothing
means no thing at all
Grammar Patterns
not + find any
any of + demonstrative pronoun
return any + relative clause
Usage Note
This use usually appears after the noun has already been mentioned or is easy to guess from the situation. 'Any of these' and 'any of them' are common shapes when the objects are visible or already known.
Common Mistakes
3. some amount, some part, or some number of what is being discussed, often what re
some amount, some part, or some number of what is being discussed, often what remains.
If any is left, pour the soup into a smaller pot.
if any is left with uncountable noun
We made plum jam; is any left in the blue tin after breakfast?
any left with an understood uncountable noun
Only six tickets remain; if any are unsold, call Mina.
if any are left with plural noun
We used most of the honey, but do we have any for tomorrow?
If any of the cake is left, wrap it for Grandpa.
any of + uncountable noun
- any left
- if any is left
- if any are left
- any of the cake
- none
means not even the smallest part or number
Grammar Patterns
if any is left
if any are left
any of + uncountable noun
Usage Note
Often appears with words such as 'left', 'remain', and 'unsold'. The verb agrees with the hidden noun: singular for mass nouns like 'soup' and plural for count nouns like 'tickets'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: determiner/2
In the free-choice sense, 'any' means one choice is enough and the speaker does not care which: 'Choose any seat.' 'Either' is narrower, because it works only when there are two options: 'Take either key.' 'Whichever' often sounds more explicit, especially when the options are visible or have just been mentioned: 'Pick whichever file you need.' 'Every' is different again. It does not offer one free choice; it covers all members one by one: 'Every seat was taken.' A good memory line is this: 'Take any apple' means choose one freely, but 'wash every apple' means all of them.
Common collocations
Nouns
- any questions
- any problems
- any idea
Adverbs
- hardly any
- almost any
Phrases
- if any
- not any
- any more
- any longer
- any time soon
Prepositions
- any of
- at any time
- in any way
- of any kind
Etymology
'Any' grew out of Old English 'ænig', a word built from the idea of 'one' and used for an unspecified member of a group. Over time it kept that open, non-specific meaning while spreading into several grammar jobs: it can point to an amount, a choice, a person, a thing, or a degree. The same old root also lies behind related forms such as 'anyone', 'anything', and 'anywhere'.