Should I write "any question" or "any questions"?
Are they both correct? Should there be singular or plural that right after "any"? If they are both correct, what's the difference?
Here, I quote some sentences from the Internet and I wonder if the word "problem" can be changed into "problems" or vise versa.
- I don't think there was any question she wore the pants.
- I can ask you any question, and you will answer?
- We were never asked any questions.
- Any questions about what is happening in mine are put aside until dessert is served.
Solution 1:
"Any question" places a strict limit on the number of questions allowable to exactly one. For example, there was exactly one question as to who wore the pants. However, where the number of questions has not been determined, or is unrestricted, then the plural should be used.
Is there any question that I am correct? I don' think so. (The only question might be "are you correct".) However, any questions you have should be added to the comments below. (Questions might be "are you serious?", "what authority do you cite?", "why is your speellling so bad?" and so forth.)
Solution 2:
Using "any question" sounds so strange.
"Call me with any questions you may have".
Yeah, it still sounds better in plural. Though thinking about it, even though it is not a question, it works in the ambiguous or uncertain tense that "any" works with... which is generally plural.
"Do you have any cats, hats, tires, fires, mice, etc"
They all run in plural.
However at the beginning of a sentence, in a more certain, assertive, authoritative tense, singularity is fine.
"Any question can be answered..."
"Any child can learn to swim"
"Any wall can be torn down" etc
Solution 3:
If you explain something at a conference (for example), in the end you would say "Any questions?".
I think the reason is that there isn't a definite number of question you expect to be asked, so you use the plural.
Honestly, I can't recall hearing/reading "Any question?" used in this way, plus there even is a Radio Programme called "Any questions?".