Question e-mailed by Farhad H. from Karaj, Iran (November 29, 2014):
Which option is correct and why?
“Peter, I have written a sentence in English on my notebook. Please read it. Does it have any (mistake, mistakes)?
Thank you so much.
My reply to Farhad:
The adjective “any” can either be singular or plural in construction. As such, it can mean one, some, or all indiscriminately of whatever quantity, or one or more in the sense of indicating an undetermined number or amount. Both options in the sentence you presented are therefore correct, and the choice will depend on whether the subject the speaker has in mind is singular or plural:
Singular “mistake” as subject: “Peter, I have written a sentence in English on my notebook. Please read it. Does it have any mistake?”
Plural “mistakes” as subject: “Peter, I have written a sentence in English on my notebook. Please read it. Does it have any mistakes?”
Both sentences are grammatically correct and, of course, they both sound right as well.