Learn English – Central determiners “some” and “any” used with singular count nouns

determinersgrammaticalitysome-any

I couldn't comment on Irene's post here, so I decided to make a topic.

I'd like to know whether this phrase: "I can give you any book that's left" is grammatically right since "some" and "any" are supposed to be used with noncount and plural count nouns.

The rule I'm referring to can be found in Quirk's grammar on page 256

Best Answer

Any has two main functions in English. One function is as an existential determiner with noncount and plural count nouns in non-affirmative statements or questions (where no determiner is in fact necessary):

  • I don't have (any) money. - Do you have (any) money?
  • I don't have (any) friends. - Do you have (any) friends?

But any is also used as a free-choice or arbitary determiner, in which case it can appear in affirmative statements with a singular count noun. So:

  • I can give you any book that's left

is grammatical, and means something like:

  • Of all the books that remain I can give you one that you or I choose.