Singular or plural verb form after "If any of those + noun"

Question

Hello all!Could anyone please dispel a doubt which has just cropped up in my (admittedly tired)head?Is a plural or singular verb form required in clauses such as 'If any of those dates/days/suggestions suit(s?) you'?Thanks a lot in advance.

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Hello all! Could anyone please dispel a doubt which has just cropped up in my (admittedly tired)head? Is a plural or singular verb form required in clauses such as 'If any of those dates/days/suggestions suit(s?) you'?[/nq]
If by "any" you mean "one", then "suits". But if you mean "one", why not write "one"? Otherwise, and in general, "any of" is followed by the plural.

Adrian

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Hello all! Could anyone please dispel a doubt which has just cropped up in my (admittedly tired)head? Is a plural or singular verb form required in clauses such as 'If any of those dates/days/suggestions suit(s?) you'? Thanks a lot in advance.[/nq]
I'd treat it as plural. To force it to be treated as singular, it would be "If any one of those dates suits you".
Matti

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Hello all! Could anyone please dispel a doubt which has ... of those dates/days/suggestions suit(s?) you'? Thanks a lot in advance.[/nq]
[nq:1]I'd treat it as plural. To force it to be treated as singular, it would be "If any one of those dates suits you".[/nq]
I think I'd usually write, and probably say, "If any of those dates suits you". The problem arises when we view "any" as potentially plural, allowing a reply agreeing to more than one of the dates suggested. In modern usage either is acceptable, but it's best to be aware of the context: Matti's suggestion would, if necessary, make it clear.

Mike.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Hello all! Could anyone please dispel a doubt which has ... of those dates/days/suggestions suit(s?) you'? Thanks a lot in advance.[/nq]
[nq:1]I'd treat it as plural. To force it to be treated as singular, it would be "If any one of those dates suits you".[/nq]
What is wrong with: "If any one of these dates suit you"? It doesn't sound right with "those" - can you help explain why? .. and why plural of "suits" rather than "suit"?
Would this be correct:
"If any of the following dates suit you"? or should it be "If any of the following dates suits you"?
What is the general rule so that these/those errors are avoided in future? I wouldn't be able to pick this error up and would like to avoid it myself and learn to use grammar correctly.
Why is the usage of "these" incorrect?

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I'd treat it as plural. To force it to be treated as singular, it would be "If any one of those dates suits you".[/nq]
[nq:1]What is wrong with: "If any one of these dates suit you"?[/nq]
The "anyone" makes it clear that the subject is now a single date, and this must take a singular form of the verb "suits" rather than "suit".
[nq:1]It doesn't sound right with "those" - can you help explain why?[/nq]
It sounds perfectly alright to me with "those"!
[nq:1].. and why plural of "suits" rather than "suit"?[/nq]
I don't understand your question.
[nq:1]Would this be correct: "If any of the following dates suit you"? or should it be "If any of the following dates suits you"?[/nq]
It's quite possible that more than one of the dates will suit, and therefore the verb needs to be plural ("suit") rather than singular ("suits"). I notice that some other people have said it can be "If any of the following dates suits you", but I believe they are incorrect.
[nq:1]What is the general rule so that these/those errors are avoided in future? I wouldn't be able to pick this error up and would like to avoid it myself and learn to use grammar correctly.[/nq]
You've picked a difficult example, based on the usage of "any"; you need to decide whether this can mean a number of items (in which case you will need to use a plural verb form) or just a single one (in which case the singular form is needed), and this should be clear from the context. Here is another example where "any" implies "any one" and therefore needs a singular:
"If any of the following dates is your birthday, raise your hand."

This is because only one of the dates can be your birthday.
[nq:1]Why is the usage of "these" incorrect?[/nq]
It's not!
Matti

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]You've picked a difficult example, based on the usage of "any"; you need to decide whether this can mean a ... following dates is your birthday, raise your hand." This is because only one of the dates can be your birthday.[/nq]
Very true. So that: "If any of the following dates is appealing, contact me with the date you'd like and I will book it for you".

and can it also be: "If the following dates are appealing, contact me with your preference and your name will be added to the time you'd like"?

Or course, I wouldn't know which is correct and would simply resolve it by using: "If any of the following dates appeal to you, contact me with your preference and the booking can be made for you".

Using "is" and "are" can be tricky for people like me.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1][/nq]
[nq:2]You've picked a difficult example, based on the usage of ... because only one of the dates can be your birthday.[/nq]
[nq:1]Very true. So that: "If any of the following dates is appealing, contact me with the date you'd like and I will book it for you".[/nq]
I'd use "are" instead of "is" for the reasons I gave more than one of the dates can appeal.
[nq:1]and can it also be: "If the following dates are appealing, contact me with your preference and your name will be added to the time you'd like"?[/nq]
You've omitted the "any", but "are" is correct either way.
[nq:1]Or course, I wouldn't know which is correct and would simply resolve it by using: "If any of the following dates appeal to you, contact me with your preference and the booking can be made for you".[/nq]
That's fine.
[nq:1]Using "is" and "are" can be tricky for people like me.[/nq]
I'm not sure why, as your English seems to be pretty good.

Matti

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]What is wrong with: "If any one of these dates suit you"?[/nq]
"Any one" is a singular subject. "Suit" is a plural verb.
[nq:1]It doesn't sound right with "those" - can you help explain why? .. and why plural of "suits" rather than ... and would like to avoid it myself and learn to use grammar correctly. Why is the usage of "these" incorrect?[/nq]
Ah, yes, the Rule of Proximity. It is a descriptive principle (not prescriptive) that says that, in these sorts of constructions, there is a very strong tendency for people to make the number of the verb agree with the noun or pronoun closest to it, not with the actual subject.

As our Intro B says, you'll find a discussion of "agreement" and the associated problems here: (Use "Next" & links)
http://www.bartleby.com/68/40/240.html

AGREEMENT OF SUBJECTS AND VERBS 4: THE PRINCIPLE OF PROXIMITY If a subject is widely separated from its verb by intervening modifiers, and if the intervening material differs in number from the subject, it is quite likely in speech that proximity (or attraction) will govern, and agreement between subject and verb will be notional rather than grammatical: Everything I've heard about their appeals and interventions suggest that they're going to delay us. Edited English does not permit this sort of lapse, although the lower levels of speech and Informal writing often overlook it. See NOTIONAL AGREEMENT. 1

Best Donna Richoux

Singular or plural verb form after "If any of those + noun"

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬