What is the subject in this sentence?

Question

I know this is an easy question, but consider:

"If any of these users has a problem, please let me know."

I could not decide whether to use have of has here. I wanted to put have, but it didn't sound right (but it does if I take "any of" out). I thought the subject of the sentence was "users" but then I started thinking "any" was the subject. The dictionary says it can be an adjective, pronoun, or adverb. Thanks for helping.

Usenet · Accepted Answer

(Email Removed) (jm) burbled news:(Email Removed):
[nq:1]I know this is an easy question, but consider: "If any of these users has a problem, please let me ... here. I wanted to put have, but it didn't sound right (but it does if I take "any of" out).[/nq]
It also sounds right if you take "of these" out.
[nq:1]I thought the subject of the sentence was "users" but then I started thinking "any" was the subject. The dictionary says it can be an adjective, pronoun, or adverb. Thanks for helping. [/nq]
The subject of the main clause is the unstated "You". The subject of the subordinate clause--the if-conditional clause--is "any".

Because "users" is both count and plural, you can use "have". But you should be able to use both.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I know this is an easy question, but consider: "If any of these users has a problem, please let me ... thinking "any" was the subject. The dictionary says it can be an adjective, pronoun, or adverb. Thanks for helping. http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=any&r=67[/nq]
The grammatical subject is an implicit "you;" the main verb is "let ... know."

The sentence can be rephrased:

Please, you let me know if any of these users has a problem.
If you mean to analyze the if-clause,

The subject is "any," and the verb is "has."

-- Adam Maass

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I know this is an easy question, but consider: "If any of these users has a problem, please let me ... started thinking "any" was the subject. The dictionary says it can be an adjective, pronoun, or adverb. Thanks for helping.[/nq]
Since the number of users with a problem is unknown at this stage, I think I would prefer treating it as plural: If any of these users have a problem, please let me know.

If you really want it in the singular, then: If any user has a problem, please let me know.

-- Regards John

What is the subject in this sentence?

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