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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
There isn't a.../There aren't any...
Hello,
I am having a problem with the negative forms of "there isn't a..." and "there aren't any...". In which situation should we use the singular construction and in which situation should we use the plural construction? I
a) There isn't a TV in the house.
b) There aren't TVs in the house.
c) There aren't any TVs in the house.
What's the difference in meaning and context in which the above sentences are used?
d) Are there any chairs in room?
e) No, there aren't any chairs in the room.
f) No, there aren't chairs in the room.
g) No, there isn't a chair in the room.
I have read somewhere that a negative answer is "typically in the plural". Why is that? Is "any" necessary in the negative answer?
Best regards,
Nawee
I am having a problem with the negative forms of "there isn't a..." and "there aren't any...". In which situation should we use the singular construction and in which situation should we use the plural construction? I
a) There isn't a TV in the house.
b) There aren't TVs in the house.
c) There aren't any TVs in the house.
What's the difference in meaning and context in which the above sentences are used?
d) Are there any chairs in room?
e) No, there aren't any chairs in the room.
f) No, there aren't chairs in the room.
g) No, there isn't a chair in the room.
I have read somewhere that a negative answer is "typically in the plural". Why is that? Is "any" necessary in the negative answer?
Best regards,
Nawee
Top answer
Anonymous a) There isn't a TV in the house. This one is fine. Anonymous b) There aren't TVs in the house This one is not.
- Anonymous a) There isn't a TV in the house.
- This one is fine.
- Anonymous b) There aren't TVs in the house This one is not.
- You use 'any' for negatives sentences before plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns.
- Examples: There aren't any books on the shelf.
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4 Answers
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Anonymousa) There isn't a TV in the house.This one is fine.
Anonymousb) There aren't TVs in the houseThis one is not.
You use 'any' for negatives sentences before plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns.
Examples:
There aren't any books on the shelf. (Plural countable noun)
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What about :
There is no chair
There are no chairs
Are they both correct?
What's the difference with the use of any then? Do you use any when you're supposing that there must be at least some ?
Thanks for your help,
There is no chair
There are no chairs
Are they both correct?
What's the difference with the use of any then? Do you use any when you're supposing that there must be at least some ?
Thanks for your help,
00
Sorry, if someone can help me.
Is it wrong to say for example, "there isn't any picture on the wall". Just to clarify if "any" always has to be with plural countable nouns.
Thanks
00
-Is it correct to say:
"Are there any train station?"
-And if it´s right, what would be the correct negative answer:
a) No, there isn´t
b) No, there aren´t
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