ANY

1 the meaning of any

Any is a determiner. It generally suggests an indefinite amount or number, and is used when it is not important to say how much / many we are thinking of. Because of its 'open', non-specific meaning, any is often used in questions and negative clauses, and in other cases where there is an idea of doubt or negation.

Have you got any beer?

We didn't have any trouble going through customs.

You never give me any help.

The noise of the party stopped me getting any sleep.

I suddenly realised I'd come out without any money.

Any is common after if:

If you find any blackberries, keep some for me. Sometimes any means 'if there is/are any' or 'whatever there is /are'.

Any fog will clear by noon. (= If there is any fog, it will clear by noon.)

Perhaps you could correct any mistakes I've made.

Any can be used to emphasise the idea of open choice: 'it doesn't matter who /what/which'.

You can borrow any book you like.

any and some

Any often contrasts with some, which is most common in affirmative clauses. Compare:

I need some razor blades.

Do you have any razor blades?

Sorry, I don't have any razor blades.

any, not any and no

Any alone does not have a negative meaning. It is only negative when used with not.

She's unhappy because she doesn't have any friends. (not ... because she has any friends.

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

She has no friends.

Not any cannot begin a sentence; no is used instead.

No cigarette is harmless, (not Not any cigarette...)

No tourists came to the town that year.

any and a/an

Any is very often used with uncountable and plural nouns. It can have the same kind of meaning as the indefinite article a/an has with singular countable nouns.

I haven 'tgota car, and I haven 'tgot any money to buy one.

Is there a can-opener in the house? And are there any plates?

With this meaning any is unusual with singular countable nouns.

She doesn't have a job. (not She doesn't have any job.)

Do you know a good doctor? (not Do you know any good doctor?)

Note that the fixed expressions any idea and any difference are used as if the nouns were uncountable.

Do you have any idea what she wants?
Is there any difference between 'close' and 'shut'?

any and no article

With an uncountable or plural noun, any usually suggests the idea of an indefinite amount or indefinite number. When there is no idea of quantity or number, we generally use no article. Compare:

- Is there any water in that can?
Is there water on the moon?

(The interest is in the existence of water, not its amount.)

- Dad hasn't got any hair. (He has lost the amount he had.)
Birds have feathers, not hair. (No idea of amount.)

any = 'it doesn't matter who/which/what'

Any can be used to emphasise the idea of free choice, with the meaning of 'it doesn't matter who/which/what'. With this meaning, any is common in affirmative clauses as well as questions and negatives, and is often used with singular countable nouns as well as uncountables and plurals. In speech, it is stressed.

Ask any doctor - they'll all tell you that alcohol is a poison.

She goes out with any boy who asks her.

'When shall I come?' 'Any time.'

Can I get a meal here at any time of the day?

I don't do just any work -I choose jobs that interest me. Note that we use either, not any, to talk about a choice between two alternatives.

lean write with either hand, (not ... any hand)

any and any of; any as a pronoun

Before a determiner (definite article, demonstrative or possessive word) or a pronoun, we use any of . Compare:

- I didn't go to any lectures last term, (not ... any of lectures...)

I wasn't interested in any of the lectures, (not ... any the lectures.)

- Do any books here belong to you? Do any of these books belong to you?

- I don't think any staff want to work tomorrow. I don't think any of us want to work tomorrow.

Note that when any of is followed by a plural subject, the verb can be singular or plural. A singular verb is more common in a formal style.

If any of your friends is/are interested, let me know. A noun can be dropped after any, if the meaning is clear.

'Did you get the oil?' 'No, there wasn't any left.' Instead of not any, none can be used. This is often more emphatic.

There was none left.

at all

At all is often used to emphasise the meaning of (not) any. I'll do any job at all - even road-sweeping. Do you play any games at all? She doesn't speak any English at all. Is there any difference at all between 'begin'and 'start'?

Compounds

Many of the rules given above also apply to the compounds anybody, anyone, anything and anywhere.

any and every

Any and every can both be used to talk in general about all the members of a class or group.

Any/Every child can learn to swim. The meaning is not quite the same. Any looks at things one at a time: it means 'whichever one you choose', 'this or that or the other'. Every looks at things together: its meaning is closer to 'all', 'this and that and the other'. Compare:

'Which newspaper would you like?' 'It doesn't matter. Any one.' (= 'one or another or another') (not ... Every one.)

On the stand there were newspapers and magazines of every kind. (= 'one and another and another') (not ... magazines of any kind.)

any and no: adverbs

any / no + comparative any / no different any/no good/use

1 any and no with comparatives

Any can modify comparatives. This can happen in questions and negative sentences, and after if.

Can you go any faster?

You don't look any older than your daughter.
(- You don't look at all older...) '
If I were any younger, I'd fall in love with you.

No can also be used in this way (but not some).

I'm afraid the weather's no better than yesterday.

2 any/no different

We can also use any and no with different.

This school isn 't any different from the last one.

'Is John any better?' No different. Still very ill.'

3 any/no good', any/no use

Note the expressions any good/use and no good/use.
Was the film any good? This watch is no use. It keeps stopping.

any more

In British English, any more is usually written as two separate words. In American English, it is often written as one word anymore when it refers to time (= 'any longer').

It usually comes in end position.

She doesn't work in New York anymore.

(not She doesn't any more work in New York.)