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Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental rule in English grammar. It states that the subject and the verb in a sentence should agree in number. In other words, if the subject is singular, the verb should be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural. But what happens when the subject is the pronoun “any”? Let`s explore the subject-verb agreement of “any.”

When “any” is used as the subject of a sentence, it is considered a singular pronoun. For this reason, the verb that follows “any” should also be singular. For example:

– Any student who wants to participate in the field trip is required to sign a permission slip. (Correct)

– Any students who want to participate in the field trip are required to sign a permission slip. (Incorrect)

In the first example, “any student” is the singular subject, followed by the singular verb “is.” In the second example, “any students” is the plural subject, but the verb “are” is plural, which creates an agreement error.

However, when “any” is used with a plural noun or pronoun, it can be followed by a plural or a singular verb. In this case, the verb that follows “any” should agree with the noun or pronoun it refers to. For example:

– Any of the students who want to participate in the field trip is required to sign a permission slip. (Correct)

– Any of the students who want to participate in the field trip are required to sign a permission slip. (Correct)

In the first example, “any” is followed by the singular noun “student,” so the singular verb “is” is used. In the second example, “any” is followed by the plural noun “students,” so the plural verb “are” is used.

It is also essential to note that when “any” is used in negative statements or questions, it should be followed by an affirmative verb. For example:

– Doesn`t any student want to participate in the field trip? (Correct)

– Doesn`t any students want to participate in the field trip? (Incorrect)

In the first example, “any student” is the singular subject, and the affirmative verb “want” is used. In the second example, “any students” is the plural subject, but the affirmative verb “want” is incorrect and creates an agreement error.

In conclusion, when using “any” as a subject, it is crucial to ensure that the verb that follows agrees in number with the subject. If “any” is followed by a singular noun/pronoun, a singular verb should be used. If “any” is followed by a plural noun/pronoun, a plural or a singular verb can be used, depending on the noun/pronoun it refers to. Lastly, in negative or interrogative statements, “any” should be followed by an affirmative verb. By following these rules, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and coherent.