Any Is vs. Any Are – Which is Correct?
Use “any is” when any refers to one unspecified person or thing, and “any are” when it refers to multiple people or things. However, “are there any…?” is often the natural construction in questions. The verb agrees with the noun or implied subject that any modifies, not with any alone.
The same agreement principle applies to collective nouns, as explained in People Is vs. People Are.
Any Is or Any Are – Which Is Correct?
Both “any is” and “any are” can be grammatically correct, but they apply in different situations. The verb must agree with what any represents.
Use “any is” when any refers to a singular, uncountable, or unspecified subject. For example, “If any is available, please reserve it” means “if any one item is available.” Use “any are” when any refers to several plural people or things, as in “If any are damaged, report them.”
In questions, the most natural structure is often “Are there any…?” because the plural noun determines the verb: “Are there any tickets?” With an uncountable noun, use “Is there any…?”: “Is there any information?”
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Replace any with “any one” or “any of them”. If “any one” makes sense, choose is: “If any one is missing…” If “any of them” makes sense, choose are: “If any of them are missing…” Also look at the noun after any: singular or uncountable nouns generally take is, while plural nouns take are.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| any is | Determiner or pronoun + singular verb | Any one person or thing exists or has a quality | If any is available, let me know. |
| any are | Determiner or pronoun + plural verb | Any people or things exist or have a quality | If any are defective, return them. |
How to Use Any Is
“Any is” is used when any represents one unspecified member of a group or an uncountable amount. It is less common than “any are” in some contexts because speakers often name the singular noun directly, but it is grammatical when the meaning is clear.
With a singular countable noun, any usually means “any one” or “whichever one.” For example, “Any answer is acceptable” means that every individual answer would be acceptable. When the noun is omitted, the phrase “any is” may appear: “If any is left, save it for tomorrow.”
Example 1: If any is available, please place it on the counter.
Example 2: Any solution is better than ignoring the problem.
Example 3: If any of the information is inaccurate, contact the editor.
Etymology of the phrase any is
Any comes from Old English ænig, meaning “any one” or “some.” It developed from the words related to one and the indefinite suffix -y. Is comes from Old English is, the third-person singular present form of the verb be. Together, “any is” expresses singular agreement when any refers to one item or an uncountable concept.
How to Use Any Are
“Any are” is used when any refers to a plural noun or to multiple members of a group. The phrase commonly appears after expressions such as “if any,” “whether any,” and “when any.” In these constructions, are agrees with the plural meaning.
In formal writing, make the implied noun clear whenever possible. “If any are missing” is correct when the reader already knows that the subject is plural, such as documents, employees, or parts. If the noun is stated, the agreement is easier to see: “If any documents are missing, notify the office.”
Example 1: If any are damaged, photograph them before returning the package.
Example 2: Any of the proposed changes are subject to review.
Example 3: If any are interested, they can register before Friday.
Etymology of the phrase any are
Any developed from Old English ænig, meaning “any one” or “some.” Are is a present-tense form of be used with plural subjects and with you. The phrase “any are” therefore combines an indefinite reference with plural subject-verb agreement.
Related Concepts
Understanding indefinite pronouns, countability, and subject-verb agreement makes the difference between “any is” and “any are” much easier to identify.
- Subject-verb agreement: A verb must match its subject in number. A singular subject takes is, while a plural subject takes are.
- Indefinite pronouns: Words such as anyone, someone, and anything refer to unspecified people or things. Many of these words are grammatically singular.
- Countable and uncountable nouns: Singular countable nouns and uncountable nouns generally use is, while plural countable nouns use are.
- Inverted questions: Questions often place the verb before the subject, as in “Are there any options?” The position of the verb does not change the agreement rule.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples reflect common constructions found in fiction, journalism, business writing, and everyday speech:
- Literary-style example: “If any is left of the old garden, it is hidden beneath the weeds.” Here, any refers to one remaining part or an uncountable amount.
- News-style example: “If any are affected by the policy change, they will receive a written notice.” Here, any refers to multiple people.
- Film-dialogue example: “Are there any seats available?” This is the natural plural question when asking about more than one possible seat.
- Business-writing example: “If any information is missing, the application cannot be processed.” The uncountable noun information takes is.
- Everyday example: “If any of the keys are bent, put them aside.” The plural noun keys takes are.
Any Is Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| any one is | One unspecified member of a group has the stated quality or status. |
| one is | A single person or thing has the stated quality or status. |
| whichever is | The particular one selected from several possibilities has the stated quality. |
Any Are Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| any of them are | One or more members of a known group have the stated quality or status. |
| some are | A portion of a group has the stated quality or status. |
| any members are | Unspecified members of a group have the stated quality or status. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “any is” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Any is” is correct when any refers to one unspecified person or thing, or to an uncountable noun. For example, “If any is available, please reserve it” is grammatical.
Question 2: Is “any are” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Any are” is correct when any refers to multiple people or things. For example, “If any are damaged, report them” uses are because the implied subject is plural.
Question 3: Should I say “is there any” or “are there any”?
Use “Is there any…?” with an uncountable or singular noun, such as “Is there any information?” Use “Are there any…?” with a plural noun, such as “Are there any questions?”
Question 4: Does “any” always take a singular verb?
No. Any can take a singular or plural verb depending on the noun or subject it represents. “Any answer is acceptable” is singular, while “Any answers are acceptable” is plural.
Conclusion
Both “any is” and “any are” are correct. Choose is when any refers to one item or an uncountable noun, and choose are when it refers to multiple people or things. Pro Tip: In professional writing, identify the implied noun before choosing the verb; accurate subject-verb agreement strengthens your credibility.
