Question e-mailed by Farhad H. in Karaj, Iran (November 3, 2014):
I have a question: If after “any” a countable noun comes, then should that noun be singular or plural?
My reply to Farhad H.:
The adjective “any” means one, some, or all indiscriminately of whatever kind or quantity. Thus, a countable noun that comes after the adjective “any” can either be singular or plural, depending on the intended modification. On one hand, we can use the singular “customer”—a countable noun—in a sentence like, say, “Any customer who returns a defective product will get a replacement or refund.” On the other hand, we can use the plural “customers” in a question like, say, “Are there any customers here who’d like to try our new in-house drink?” Of course, that same sentence can also be expressed with the subject in the singular form, as in “Is there any customer here who’d like to try our new in-house drink?” It really all depends on the sense intended by the speaker or writer.
