Tina Tran
What's difference between two sentences: "There isn't a book" and "There isn't any book" ? Which sentence is true? Thank you for your help. :)
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التعليقات · 2
4

there is a dummy subject and can be either singular or plural, so for 'there is X', we must examine X to determine the plurality of the verb, as if books were the subject of the sentence. 

Words such as 'none, any, all, more, most, and some' may take either singular or plural verbs, depending on the context.

In your example, the subject (there/book) is singular, so it should take a singular verb form:

- There isn't a book. CORRECT

- There isn't any book. CORRECT

Note: If the word 'books' is used, then the verb should be the plural form

- There aren't any books.

٢١ سبتمبر ٢٠١٦
1
'There isn't any book' is incorrect. It should be 'there isn't any books'.
٢١ سبتمبر ٢٠١٦
Tina Tran
المهارات اللغوية
الصينية (المندرية), الإنجليزية, الألمانية, اليابانية, الكورية, الفيتنامية
لغة التعلّم
الصينية (المندرية), الإنجليزية, الألمانية, اليابانية, الكورية