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Draque Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

How to use "any" in questions

I hear "Do you have any idea ?"" as often as or even more often than "Do you have any ideas ?",

while I almost never hear "Do you have any child ?" or "Do you have any question ?"

Why is it OK to use "idea" in the singular but not OK to use "child" or "question" in the singular with "any" ?

Is it just a customary thing or gramatically incorrect ?

Please help me !
  

Top answer

These are very common questions: Do you have any children? Do you have any questions? A person can have one or more children or one or more questions and we don't know in advance, so that is why we ask this using the plural form.

— AlpheccaStars

  • These are very common questions: Do you have any children?
  • Do you have any questions?
  • A person can have one or more children or one or more questions and we don't know in advance, so that is why we ask this using the plural form.
  • We are asking about all their children and all their questions.
  • Do you have any idea?
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10 Answers
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These are very common questions:

Do you have any children?

Do you have any questions?

A person can have one or more children or one or more questions and we don't know in advance, so that is why we ask this using the plural form. We are asking about all their children and all their questions.

Do you have any idea? - This is different because one idea may
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Thank you for your quick replay.

In short, is it safe to say that "Do you have any child ?" is gramatically correct, but it sounds very weird ?
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I would say it is not correct. Any means one, some, several, (any number) and so it should be used with the plural of a count noun, especially if the noun is concrete.

If you are asking about one child then the correct way is to use "a":

Do you have a child?
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Thank you for your reply. Please let me ask another related question.

For example, I have one child, and someone asks me, "Do you have any children ?".

My answer should be "Yes, I have one child.", rather than "Yes, I have a child." ?
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draqueMy answer should be "Yes, I have one child.", rather than "Yes, I have a child." ?
Either one is fine.
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I agree that " any" implies singular and it should be. But I've come across business usages often where "any" is used in plural contexts and it's commonly accepted.

i.e. If you have any questions with the products, feel free to contact me...

Whether it is correct, just a point of interest.
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Thank you everyone. Your answers were most helpful !
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I have a related question on "Do you have any idea"

With plural, "Do you have any ideas?" - I would think it is asking whether I have thoughts or 'ideas' on some matter.

What if I use it like this: "Do you have any idea how hard I have worked for this?"

I cannot use plural with idea, or can I?
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holydukeI have a related question on "Do you have any idea" With plural, "Do you have any ideas?" - I would think it is asking whether I have thoughts or 'ideas' on some matter.What if I use it like this: "Do you have any idea how hard I have worked for this?"
I cannot use plural with idea, or can I?
You can use the plural - in fact, it is probably more co
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