If you have (any) questions

Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
Do I need to use any in the following sentence? Does any change the meaning of the following sentence?
If you have (any) questions on the subject, feel free to ask me.
As an English speaker would you leave any out?
determiners interrogatives some-vs-any
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Do I need to use any in the following sentence? Does any change the meaning of the following sentence?
If you have (any) questions on the subject, feel free to ask me.
As an English speaker would you leave any out?
determiners interrogatives some-vs-any
add a comment |
Do I need to use any in the following sentence? Does any change the meaning of the following sentence?
If you have (any) questions on the subject, feel free to ask me.
As an English speaker would you leave any out?
determiners interrogatives some-vs-any
Do I need to use any in the following sentence? Does any change the meaning of the following sentence?
If you have (any) questions on the subject, feel free to ask me.
As an English speaker would you leave any out?
determiners interrogatives some-vs-any
determiners interrogatives some-vs-any
edited Dec 28 '18 at 3:36
CJ Dennis
1,749717
1,749717
asked Dec 27 '18 at 18:05
subhajit dalalsubhajit dalal
12118
12118
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2 Answers
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Both are correct but the use of any makes it a bit more welcoming in a sense that you will answer all questions on the subject.
OTOH, a snarky lecturer might still respond "When I said 'any questions', I didn't mean something that silly."
– Barmar
Dec 27 '18 at 23:12
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"Any" is a qualifier. It specifies what sort of questions are welcome.
If you have questions on the subject, feel free to ask me.
A student might feel that the question must be at least a certain quality before they should ask it.
If you have any questions on the subject, feel free to ask me.
The teacher is saying that all questions on the subject are welcome, no matter what the student might feel. It is friendlier and more likely to result in questions being asked than without "any".
Without "any" the student might assume only "good" questions, only "thoughtful" questions, only "short" questions, and so on. Including "any" is an attempt to counter the student's preconceptions about what sort of questions are welcome.
Taken very literally, "questions" means two or more, and "any questions" means one or more, even though it's grammatically plural. Most people would not be so pedantic in their interpretation of the sentence though.
As an English speaker, I would be much more likely to include "any" than to leave it out. It feels much more natural that way.
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Both are correct but the use of any makes it a bit more welcoming in a sense that you will answer all questions on the subject.
OTOH, a snarky lecturer might still respond "When I said 'any questions', I didn't mean something that silly."
– Barmar
Dec 27 '18 at 23:12
add a comment |
Both are correct but the use of any makes it a bit more welcoming in a sense that you will answer all questions on the subject.
OTOH, a snarky lecturer might still respond "When I said 'any questions', I didn't mean something that silly."
– Barmar
Dec 27 '18 at 23:12
add a comment |
Both are correct but the use of any makes it a bit more welcoming in a sense that you will answer all questions on the subject.
Both are correct but the use of any makes it a bit more welcoming in a sense that you will answer all questions on the subject.
answered Dec 27 '18 at 18:07
Daniil ManokhinDaniil Manokhin
1,467117
1,467117
OTOH, a snarky lecturer might still respond "When I said 'any questions', I didn't mean something that silly."
– Barmar
Dec 27 '18 at 23:12
add a comment |
OTOH, a snarky lecturer might still respond "When I said 'any questions', I didn't mean something that silly."
– Barmar
Dec 27 '18 at 23:12
OTOH, a snarky lecturer might still respond "When I said 'any questions', I didn't mean something that silly."
– Barmar
Dec 27 '18 at 23:12
OTOH, a snarky lecturer might still respond "When I said 'any questions', I didn't mean something that silly."
– Barmar
Dec 27 '18 at 23:12
add a comment |
"Any" is a qualifier. It specifies what sort of questions are welcome.
If you have questions on the subject, feel free to ask me.
A student might feel that the question must be at least a certain quality before they should ask it.
If you have any questions on the subject, feel free to ask me.
The teacher is saying that all questions on the subject are welcome, no matter what the student might feel. It is friendlier and more likely to result in questions being asked than without "any".
Without "any" the student might assume only "good" questions, only "thoughtful" questions, only "short" questions, and so on. Including "any" is an attempt to counter the student's preconceptions about what sort of questions are welcome.
Taken very literally, "questions" means two or more, and "any questions" means one or more, even though it's grammatically plural. Most people would not be so pedantic in their interpretation of the sentence though.
As an English speaker, I would be much more likely to include "any" than to leave it out. It feels much more natural that way.
add a comment |
"Any" is a qualifier. It specifies what sort of questions are welcome.
If you have questions on the subject, feel free to ask me.
A student might feel that the question must be at least a certain quality before they should ask it.
If you have any questions on the subject, feel free to ask me.
The teacher is saying that all questions on the subject are welcome, no matter what the student might feel. It is friendlier and more likely to result in questions being asked than without "any".
Without "any" the student might assume only "good" questions, only "thoughtful" questions, only "short" questions, and so on. Including "any" is an attempt to counter the student's preconceptions about what sort of questions are welcome.
Taken very literally, "questions" means two or more, and "any questions" means one or more, even though it's grammatically plural. Most people would not be so pedantic in their interpretation of the sentence though.
As an English speaker, I would be much more likely to include "any" than to leave it out. It feels much more natural that way.
add a comment |
"Any" is a qualifier. It specifies what sort of questions are welcome.
If you have questions on the subject, feel free to ask me.
A student might feel that the question must be at least a certain quality before they should ask it.
If you have any questions on the subject, feel free to ask me.
The teacher is saying that all questions on the subject are welcome, no matter what the student might feel. It is friendlier and more likely to result in questions being asked than without "any".
Without "any" the student might assume only "good" questions, only "thoughtful" questions, only "short" questions, and so on. Including "any" is an attempt to counter the student's preconceptions about what sort of questions are welcome.
Taken very literally, "questions" means two or more, and "any questions" means one or more, even though it's grammatically plural. Most people would not be so pedantic in their interpretation of the sentence though.
As an English speaker, I would be much more likely to include "any" than to leave it out. It feels much more natural that way.
"Any" is a qualifier. It specifies what sort of questions are welcome.
If you have questions on the subject, feel free to ask me.
A student might feel that the question must be at least a certain quality before they should ask it.
If you have any questions on the subject, feel free to ask me.
The teacher is saying that all questions on the subject are welcome, no matter what the student might feel. It is friendlier and more likely to result in questions being asked than without "any".
Without "any" the student might assume only "good" questions, only "thoughtful" questions, only "short" questions, and so on. Including "any" is an attempt to counter the student's preconceptions about what sort of questions are welcome.
Taken very literally, "questions" means two or more, and "any questions" means one or more, even though it's grammatically plural. Most people would not be so pedantic in their interpretation of the sentence though.
As an English speaker, I would be much more likely to include "any" than to leave it out. It feels much more natural that way.
answered Dec 28 '18 at 0:58
CJ DennisCJ Dennis
1,749717
1,749717
add a comment |
add a comment |
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