1.Any perosns can have two apples.
2.Any person can have two apples.
Should the noun that follow after ANY should become plural ?
Thanks
any + noun+s ?
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any + noun+s ?
I would like to know which is a correct sentence.
1.Any perosns can have two apples.
2.Any person can have two apples.
Should the noun that follow after ANY should become plural ?
Thanks
1.Any perosns can have two apples.
2.Any person can have two apples.
Should the noun that follow after ANY should become plural ?
Thanks
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Duncan Powrie
- Posts: 525
- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 3:33 pm
Have you thought of changing the "any" to "each" ('versus' "every"?!), or something even more specific? Each person can have two apples; You, they etc can (each) have two apples/You, they etc can have two apples (each). 
As it is, your pair of sentences kind of remind me of those in the recent "word order" thread (started by Seiichi)! That is, there seems to me to be a certain "exasperated" tone about them (in the way I imagine a speaker might say them) which makes me want to change and perhaps "improve" them (=make the form properly reflect the more neutral function of distributing fruit rather than coldly stating an impersonal rule or regulation - "any" can actually be a pretty strong word sometimes, especially when it modifies the subject AND begins the sentence too!) in the above ways.
Anyway, in answer to your original question, I guess most of us would say Any person can have two apples (and not ?Any persons...), in the same way that Any person can choose between two sentences if you put a gun to their head.
As it is, your pair of sentences kind of remind me of those in the recent "word order" thread (started by Seiichi)! That is, there seems to me to be a certain "exasperated" tone about them (in the way I imagine a speaker might say them) which makes me want to change and perhaps "improve" them (=make the form properly reflect the more neutral function of distributing fruit rather than coldly stating an impersonal rule or regulation - "any" can actually be a pretty strong word sometimes, especially when it modifies the subject AND begins the sentence too!) in the above ways.
Anyway, in answer to your original question, I guess most of us would say Any person can have two apples (and not ?Any persons...), in the same way that Any person can choose between two sentences if you put a gun to their head.
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woodcutter
- Posts: 1303
- Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2004 6:14 am
- Location: London
interpretation of the preceding text
Duncan, is this reply really addressed to the poster? There doesn't seem to be much concept of grading language round here!
Let helpful Mr.Woodcutter explain, which he usually avoids for fear of looking silly.
Paksu, these sentences do not sound natural, replace "any" with "each" to make "Each person can have two apples".
After an "any" which means "whichever" - as in "Any product can be returned to the store if faulty" - we usually use a singular noun.
Afer an "any" which means something like "an amount of" as in "Are there any pears in the fridge?" we usually have a plural or uncountable noun.
Don't let that bad Mr.Powrie upset you.
Let helpful Mr.Woodcutter explain, which he usually avoids for fear of looking silly.
Paksu, these sentences do not sound natural, replace "any" with "each" to make "Each person can have two apples".
After an "any" which means "whichever" - as in "Any product can be returned to the store if faulty" - we usually use a singular noun.
Afer an "any" which means something like "an amount of" as in "Are there any pears in the fridge?" we usually have a plural or uncountable noun.
Don't let that bad Mr.Powrie upset you.
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Stephen Jones
- Posts: 1421
- Joined: Sun May 18, 2003 5:25 pm
As Woodcutter has pointed out 'any' has two separate meanings.
IN the case that concerns us here it can be followed by a non-count noun or a singular or plural count nooun.
Any time you're free, just pop in.
Any teacher here know the answer to this question?
Any teachers here know the answer to this question?
Incidentally, we normally use 'people' as the plural of persons
IN the case that concerns us here it can be followed by a non-count noun or a singular or plural count nooun.
Any time you're free, just pop in.
Any teacher here know the answer to this question?
Any teachers here know the answer to this question?
Incidentally, we normally use 'people' as the plural of persons
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Duncan Powrie
- Posts: 525
- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 3:33 pm
No, woodcutter, my reply wasn't so much addressed to Paksu as it was to YOU, my ideal reader, my LOVE. 
As you said to Paksu, I am a bad bad mad madman!
Anyway, I hope Paksu gets his/her apples distributed fairly and doesn't have to shoot anyone for nicking any whilst he's/she's got his/her back turned in putting up the official notice...
Hmm yeah I guess I avoid explicit explanation too, but maybe that's because I know there are guys like SJ (and now you too, w!) around to help build on, if not entirely demolish, my rickety foundations.
P.S. I'd also like to point out that Paksu's post was slipping quite a way down the forum, so I thought nobody better-qualified than me was going to bother replying anytime soon...glad to have been the sacrificial lamb that brought forth a response from the gods!
As you said to Paksu, I am a bad bad mad madman!Anyway, I hope Paksu gets his/her apples distributed fairly and doesn't have to shoot anyone for nicking any whilst he's/she's got his/her back turned in putting up the official notice...
Hmm yeah I guess I avoid explicit explanation too, but maybe that's because I know there are guys like SJ (and now you too, w!) around to help build on, if not entirely demolish, my rickety foundations.
P.S. I'd also like to point out that Paksu's post was slipping quite a way down the forum, so I thought nobody better-qualified than me was going to bother replying anytime soon...glad to have been the sacrificial lamb that brought forth a response from the gods!