Is There Any or Are There Any? Learners hesitate because both sound natural and share the same small word. The confusion happens because the verb depends on the noun that follows, not on any. Here is the answer: use “is there any” with singular and uncountable nouns, and “are there any” with plural nouns. When you wonder whether it is Is There Any or Are There Any, check the noun first.
Is There Any or Are There Any? The Quick Answer
Use “Are there any” before a plural noun, and “Is there any” before a singular or uncountable noun.
- Are there any seats left? (plural)
- Is there any milk left? (uncountable)
- Is there any reason to wait? (singular)
Neither form is wrong on its own. Each is correct in the right situation, and the noun after any decides which one fits.
What Does “Any” Mean in Questions, and Where Does It Come From?
In questions, any is a determiner that asks whether even a small amount or number exists. It does not ask for a specific quantity. It means “at least some” or “even one.”
The word comes from Old English ǣnig, which was built from the word for “one” (ān). That history explains why any can sit comfortably before a singular noun: it still carries a trace of “one.”
The spelling and sound do not match. You write any, but you say EH-nee, with an e sound at the start.
When Do You Use “Is There Any”?
Use “is there any” when the noun is uncountable or singular countable.
An uncountable noun names something you cannot count one by one, such as water, advice, or time. These nouns take a singular verb.
- Is there any water in the fridge?
- Is there any traffic on the highway?
- Is there any information about the delay?
A singular countable noun works too, and any then means “even one, of whatever kind.”
- Is there any chance we can reschedule?
- Is there any reason to worry?
- Is there any way to fix this?
The verb is matches the singular idea in every example above.
When Do You Use “Are There Any”?
Use “are there any” when the noun is plural and countable. That includes regular plurals (cookies, emails) and irregular ones (children, people, mice).
- Are there any cookies left?
- Are there any emails from the client?
- Are there any children in the waiting room?
- Are there any people in line?
The verb are agrees with the plural noun. If you can put a number in front of the noun (two cookies, three emails), “are there any” is almost always the right choice.
Singular, Plural, or Uncountable: A Quick Comparison Table
Here is the rule in one place. Every row shows a correct form.
| Noun type | Correct form | Example | Why it works |
| Plural countable | Are there any | Are there any apples? | Plural noun, plural verb |
| Singular countable | Is there any | Is there any reason to wait? | Any means “even one” |
| Uncountable | Is there any | Is there any milk? | Uncountable nouns take singular verbs |
| Looks plural, acts singular | Is there any | Is there any news? | News takes a singular verb |
The last row catches many learners. Words like news end in -s but are treated as singular.
Can the Same Noun Take Either Form?
Yes, some nouns can be countable or uncountable depending on meaning. The verb follows the meaning you intend, so both versions can be correct.
| Noun | Uncountable meaning | Countable meaning |
| chicken | Is there any chicken left? (the meat) | Are there any chickens in the yard? (the birds) |
| paper | Is there any paper in the printer? (the material) | Are there any papers on my desk? (documents) |
| coffee | Is there any coffee left? (the drink in general) | Are there any coffees on the menu? (types or servings) |
| room | Is there any room in the car? (space) | Are there any rooms available? (separate rooms) |
| time | Is there any time to talk? (time in general) | Are there any times that work for you? (specific slots) |
When a noun can go both ways, ask yourself whether you mean a substance or an idea (use is) or separate items (use are).
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How Do You Answer These Questions?
Answer with a short reply or a full sentence.
- Is there any milk? Yes, there is. / No, there isn’t.
- Are there any seats? Yes, there are. / No, there aren’t.
In full negative sentences, any usually stays in the sentence: “There isn’t any milk” and “There aren’t any seats.” In positive statements, English prefers some: “There is some milk” and “There are some seats.”
Questions can use some when you expect a yes or you are making an offer or request: “Would you like some tea?” and “Could I have some water?” For ordinary questions about whether something exists, use any.
With the pattern any of the, the verb follows the noun that comes after: “Is there any of the soup left?” (soup is uncountable) and “Are there any of the cookies left?” (cookies is plural).
How Do You Use These Questions in Real Life?
Is There Any or Are There Any? Real situations make the choice clearer. Here are natural examples from different settings.
- Everyday: “Are there any seats near the window?”
- Casual: “Is there any pizza left?”
- Workplace email: “Are there any questions before we move on?”
- Business writing: “Are there any outstanding invoices for March?”
- Academic writing: “Is there any evidence that the effect lasts?”
- Formal writing: “Is there any objection to the motion?”
In the academic example, evidence is uncountable, so the singular verb is fits. In the workplace example, questions is plural, so are fits. The examples also show the register is flexible: the same pattern works in a casual chat and a formal meeting.
Does the Rule Change in Other Tenses?
No. The same noun test applies in every tense. Only the verb form changes.
| Tense | Singular or uncountable | Plural |
| Past | Was there any water? | Were there any complaints? |
| Future | Will there be any delay? | Will there be any changes? |
| Present perfect | Has there been any progress? | Have there been any updates? |
| Negative question | Isn’t there any milk? | Aren’t there any seats? |
Notice that will there be uses the same form for both. Only is/are, was/were, and has/have change with the noun.
British English follows the same rule. One small difference: British speakers sometimes use the more formal “Have you any milk?” while Americans usually say “Do you have any milk?”
What Mistakes Do Learners Make?
These mistakes are normal, and most come from nouns that behave differently in other languages. Each fix is simple.
Incorrect: Are there any information about the schedule?
Correct: Is there any information about the schedule?
Information is uncountable, so it takes a singular verb and has no plural form.
Incorrect: Is there any cookies left?
Correct: Are there any cookies left?
Cookies is plural. You may hear the incorrect version in fast speech, but standard writing uses are.
Incorrect: Are there any advices on this topic?
Correct: Is there any advice on this topic?
Advice is uncountable, so it does not take an -s.
Incorrect: Are there any news from the office?
Correct: Is there any news from the office?
News looks plural, but it acts as a singular noun.
Other common uncountable nouns to watch are furniture, luggage, equipment, homework, and money. They all take “is there any.”
What Is the Easiest Way to Remember the Rule?
For Is There Any or Are There Any, use a two-second noun test:
- Find the noun after any.
- Ask: is it plural? If yes, use are there any.
- If it is singular or uncountable, use is there any.
A quick shortcut is to try adding the word two. If “two apples” sounds natural, use are. If “two milks” sounds odd, use is.
The shortcut has a few exceptions, such as news, so check unusual nouns in a dictionary if you are unsure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is correct: Is There Any or Are There Any?
Both are correct. Use “is there any” with singular or uncountable nouns (Is there any milk?) and “are there any” with plural nouns (Are there any seats?).
Can you say “Is there any” with a plural noun?
You may hear it in casual speech, but standard English uses “are there any” with plural nouns. In writing, choose are.
What is the difference between “any” and “some”?
Any is the usual choice in questions and negatives. Some is the usual choice in positive statements, and in questions when you offer something or expect a yes.
How do you use “are there any” in a sentence?
Put a plural noun after it: “Are there any open tables this evening?”
Conlcusion:
Is There Any or Are There Any? The answer depends on the noun that follows. Use is there any with singular and uncountable nouns such as reason, milk, advice, or news. Use are there any with plural nouns such as seats, emails, or children.
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