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Troy Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Singular or Plural nouns after 'no'/ 'any' ?
Hi,
Should we use singular or plural after 'no' or 'any'? I'm confused as I have come across both cases and still don't understand about this, or is it okay to use either one? How to decide which one to use then?
Examples:
i. No new messages. (can it be: No new message)
ii. No system of government is perfect. (can this be: No systems of government are perfect, sounds weird to me and I don't think it's correct)
Please help. Thanks.
Troy
Should we use singular or plural after 'no' or 'any'? I'm confused as I have come across both cases and still don't understand about this, or is it okay to use either one? How to decide which one to use then?
Examples:
i. No new messages. (can it be: No new message)
ii. No system of government is perfect. (can this be: No systems of government are perfect, sounds weird to me and I don't think it's correct)
Please help. Thanks.
Troy
Top answer
As far as I know you use plural with countable nouns and singular with uncountable ones. Countable: - No new messages. - No government systems are perfect.
- As far as I know you use plural with countable nouns and singular with uncountable ones.
- Countable: - No new messages.
- - No government systems are perfect.
- Uncountable: - I have no money.
- - I don't have any money.
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11 Answers
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As far as I know you use plural with countable nouns
and singular with uncountable ones.
Countable:
- No new messages.
- No government systems are perfect.
Uncountable:
- I have no money.
- I don't have any money.
and singular with uncountable ones.
Countable:
- No new messages.
- No government systems are perfect.
Uncountable:
- I have no money.
- I don't have any money.
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Hi Troy!
"No new message" is correct if you are dealing with only one message; "no news messages" is correct if you are dealing with more than one message.
Both "No government system is perfect" and "No government systems are perfect" are correct, although you'll usually want to use the first one in most cases.
Just go with your ear, but rest easy knowing that, most
"No new message" is correct if you are dealing with only one message; "no news messages" is correct if you are dealing with more than one message.
Both "No government system is perfect" and "No government systems are perfect" are correct, although you'll usually want to use the first one in most cases.
Just go with your ear, but rest easy knowing that, most
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Thanks DiamondKite for your explanation. Does the 'ownership' you mentioned only apply to something tangible?
Are the following examples correct?
i. I have no idea (? no ideas) which one is correct.
ii. I have no excuse (? no excuses) not to do it.
iii. I have no reason (? no reasons) to run away.
iv. I have no place (? no places) to hide.
Troy
Are the following examples correct?
i. I have no idea (? no ideas) which one is correct.
ii. I have no excuse (? no excuses) not to do it.
iii. I have no reason (? no reasons) to run away.
iv. I have no place (? no places) to hide.
Troy
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Hey again, Troy!
Okay, the first sentence is a bit tough. You will want to keep "idea" singular because "which is" is immediately following what you own. If a singular verb follows what you want, keep it singular. However, if someone just asks "Do you have an idea?" you should say "I have no ideas" or "I don't have any ideas."
Otherwise, you'll want to stay consistent with the
Okay, the first sentence is a bit tough. You will want to keep "idea" singular because "which is" is immediately following what you own. If a singular verb follows what you want, keep it singular. However, if someone just asks "Do you have an idea?" you should say "I have no ideas" or "I don't have any ideas."
Otherwise, you'll want to stay consistent with the
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I think I would agree with your reasoning but "I have no place to hide" still sounds correct to me.
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"i. I have no idea (? no ideas) which one is correct."
All those plural forms sound a bit odd to me.
'I have no idea' means 'I don't know anything about that'.
'I have no ideas' sounds more literal. Like you've ran out of ideas.
'iii. I have no reason (? no reasons) to run away.'
'No reason' is a general way of expression. You simply don't need plural
All those plural forms sound a bit odd to me.
'I have no idea' means 'I don't know anything about that'.
'I have no ideas' sounds more literal. Like you've ran out of ideas.
'iii. I have no reason (? no reasons) to run away.'
'No reason' is a general way of expression. You simply don't need plural
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""No new message" is correct if you are dealing with only one message; "no news messages" is correct if you are dealing with more than one message. "
Usually the context here is answering machine or e-mail client, I think. I have never heard singular 'no new message' been used.
Usually the context here is answering machine or e-mail client, I think. I have never heard singular 'no new message' been used.
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Interesting! Based on this rule, can I be confident enough to say the following examples are grammatically wrong?
Examples:
i. Oh, I know that civilized progress depends on education. Without it, I'd have had no motorcycle to ride, no tractor to run on our farm; I wouldn't now be flying in an airplane above the North Atlantic Ocean. (from 'The Spirit of St. Louis', by Charles A. Li
Examples:
i. Oh, I know that civilized progress depends on education. Without it, I'd have had no motorcycle to ride, no tractor to run on our farm; I wouldn't now be flying in an airplane above the North Atlantic Ocean. (from 'The Spirit of St. Louis', by Charles A. Li
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Hi,
Using e-mail as the context here, which is correct?
(a) Let me know if you have any question.
(b) Let me know if you have any questions.
Using e-mail as the context here, which is correct?
(a) Let me know if you have any question.
(b) Let me know if you have any questions.
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