English Café: Any – How to use this complex little word

Advanced Details: “Any” – How to use this complex little word

Any can be used in the following ways:

• as a determiner (followed by a singular countable noun): It’s a problem that any competent technician child could solve. (followed by a plural or uncountable noun): Are there any cans left? He hasn’t got any money.
• as a pronoun (without a following noun): I looked around for toilet paper, but there wasn’t any. (followed by “of”): Have you read any of his books?
• as an adverb (usually followed by the comparative form of an adjective or adverb): Are you feeling any better?

Any is used especially in questions, in negative sentences, and in clauses with “if” (conditional sentences): Is there any coffee left? There weren’t any complaints. I can lend you a map if that’s any help.