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. :)
21 set 2016 13:06
Commenti · 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.

21 settembre 2016
1
'There isn't any book' is incorrect. It should be 'there isn't any books'.
21 settembre 2016
Tina Tran
Competenze linguistiche
Cinese (mandarino), Inglese, Tedesco, Giapponese, Coreano, Vietnamita
Lingua di apprendimento
Cinese (mandarino), Inglese, Tedesco, Giapponese, Coreano