Common Mistakes : Any

adverb

.BAD: People go there when they are not able any more to look after themselves

.GOOD: People go there when they are not able to look after themselves any more

.BAD: The state does not any more provide a pension for everyone

.GOOD: The state does not provide a pension for everyone any more

When used in connection with time, any more usually comes at the end of the sentence: Helen doesn’t work here any more

Note the alternatives: People go there when they are no longer able to look after themselves. The state no longer provides a pension for everyone

pronoun

.BAD: Any day was the same

.GOOD: Each day was the same

.BAD: Any smoker must remember that the people around him are inhaling the smoke

.GOOD: Every smoker must remember that the people around him are inhaling the smoke

.BAD: Any parents are thrilled when their first baby arrives

.GOOD: All parents are thrilled when their first baby arrives

To refer to all the people or things in a group or category, use each/every + singular countable noun OR all + plural countable noun (NOT any)

Every house in the street had one or two broken windows. / All students are required to register during the first week

.BAD: If you have any question, ask your teacher

.GOOD: If you have any questions, ask your teacher

.BAD: She doesn’t have any friend

.GOOD: She doesn’t have any friends

When any is used with a countable noun, the noun is usually plural: a question BUT any questions

?BAD: Has Atsuko found any job yet

?GOOD: Has Atsuko found a job yet

.BAD: If there is any hole in the balloon, the air will escape

.GOOD: If there is a hole in the balloon, the air will escape

Any is usually used with uncountable nouns and plural countables. NOT with singular countable nouns

:Compare

Do you have any money? money is an uncountable noun

Do you have any fifty-cent coins? coins is a plural countable noun

Do you have a fifty-cent coin? coin is a singular countable noun

Note, however: ‘I’ll accept any job I’m offered.’ (= it does not matter which job)

BAD: When he asked if he could use the telephone, he was told that the family didn’t have any

GOOD: When he asked if he could use the telephone, he was told that the family didn’t have one

.Do not use any as a pronoun for a singular countable noun (see last entry)

:Compare

He asked for some help but nobody gave him any. help is an uncountable noun

She wanted to borrow some books but nobody would lend her any. books is a plural countable noun

I need a new computer but I can’t afford one. computer is a singular countable noun