Subject Verb Agreement with “Any”
Subject verb agreement is an essential aspect of English grammar. It refers to how the subject and verb in a sentence must agree grammatically. In other words, the verb must be in agreement with the subject in terms of number and person. One of the areas where subject verb agreement can be tricky is with the use of the word “any”. In this article, we will explore subject verb agreement with “any” and provide examples to clarify the rules.
When “Any” is a pronoun
When “any” is used as a pronoun, it refers to an indefinite number of things or people. In such cases, the pronoun “any” is always considered singular. Hence, the verb that follows “any” should also be in the singular form. Here`s an example:
– Any of the books is suitable for the examination.
In this sentence, “any” is used as a pronoun representing an unknown or indefinite number of books. In such a case, the verb “is” agrees with the singular pronoun “any.”
When “Any” is an Adjective
Sometimes, “any” is used as an adjective to describe a noun. In such cases, the subject verb agreement depends on the noun that is being described. If the noun is singular, the verb should be singular, and if the noun is plural, the verb should be plural. Here are some examples:
– Any student who finishes the assignment will receive a certificate.
In this sentence, “any” is used to describe “student,” which is a singular noun. Therefore, the verb “finishes” agrees with the subject “student.”
– Any of the students who finish the assignment will receive a certificate.
In this sentence, “any” is used to describe “students,” which is a plural noun. Therefore, the verb “finish” agrees with the plural subject “students.”
When “Any” is Used with Countable and Uncountable Nouns
“Any” can also be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. However, the subject verb agreement rules differ depending on the type of noun. Let`s take a look:
– Any of the water has evaporated.
In this sentence, “water” is an uncountable noun, and “any” is used as a pronoun. Therefore, the verb “has” agrees with the singular subject “water.”
– Any of the bottles are empty.
In this sentence, “bottles” is a countable noun, and “any” is used as an adjective. Therefore, the verb “are” agrees with the plural subject “bottles.”
Conclusion
Subject verb agreement with “any” can be tricky, but following the rules outlined above can help you avoid errors. Just remember that when “any” is used as a pronoun, it is always singular, and the verb should also be in the singular form. When “any” is used as an adjective, the subject verb agreement depends on the noun being described. It is crucial to pay attention to the number of the noun to determine whether the verb should be singular or plural.