Both “any problem” and “any problems” are grammatically correct, but they aren’t always interchangeable. Use any problem when you mean a single, general issue, or when you want the “no matter which one” sense of any. Use any problems when you’re asking about or referring to more than one possible issue, which is the more common choice in everyday questions and negative statements. The difference comes down to how problem is functioning in the sentence, not a fixed right-or-wrong rule.
Quick Answer
| Form | When to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| any problem | One issue, or an emphatic “whichever one” meaning; common in formal or careful writing | Contact us if you notice any problem with your order. |
| any problems | An open-ended or unspecified number of issues; the default in questions and negatives | Did you have any problems during setup? |
Correct: Are there any problems with the shipment?
Incorrect: Is there any problems with the shipment?
The error above happens because the verb is doesn’t agree with the plural noun problems. That mismatch is the single most common mistake with this phrase, and it’s covered in detail below.
Is “Problem” a Countable or Uncountable Noun?
Problem is a countable noun. Like idea or task, it has a singular form (problem) and a plural form (problems), and you can count it directly: one problem, two problems, several problems. That’s exactly why any can attach to either form — the choice depends on how many issues you’re referring to, not on a rule that locks any to one number.
Why Both Forms Are Grammatically Correct
How “Any” Works With Singular and Plural Nouns
In questions and negative sentences, any typically pairs with a plural countable noun or an uncountable noun. That’s the pattern behind “Are there any problems?” and “We don’t have any problems.”
Any can also go directly before a singular countable noun, but in that case it usually carries a slightly different meaning: “it doesn’t matter which one.” “Any problem” in this sense isn’t just “one problem” — it’s closer to “whichever problem comes up.” That’s why “any problem” often shows up in careful or formal writing, such as policies and instructions, where the writer wants to cover every possible single issue in advance.
Examples in Context
- Any problems (open-ended, plural): “Let us know if there are any problems with the delivery.” / “We didn’t run into any problems on the drive.”
- Any problem (singular, often emphatic): “Report any problem to your supervisor immediately, no matter how minor.” / “She can usually solve any problem you bring to her.”
Subject-Verb Agreement: “Is There Any Problem” vs. “Are There Any Problems”
The verb must match the noun you choose. Pair is with the singular problem and are with the plural problems.
- Is there any problem with the plan? — correct
- Are there any problems with the plan? — correct
- Is there any problems with the plan? — incorrect (verb doesn’t match the plural noun)
This is the single easiest way to check your sentence: say the verb and the noun out loud together. If they don’t sound like a natural pair, one of them needs to change.
“Any Problem” vs. “Any Problems” in Questions, Negatives, and Conditionals
Any shows up most naturally in three sentence types:
- Questions: “Do you have any problems with the schedule?”
- Negatives: “I don’t have any problems with the current plan.”
- Conditionals: “If there are any problems, call the front desk.”
In plain positive (affirmative) statements, any usually sounds off unless you’re using its “no matter which” sense. “There are any problems with the report” isn’t standard English — in a plain positive statement, some or several is the natural choice: “There are some problems with the report.”
Formal vs Informal Usage
“Any problem” tends to read as more formal or deliberate. It’s common in written policies, manuals, and professional correspondence, where the writer is deliberately keeping the statement general: “Please notify us of any problem with your account.” “Any problems” tends to read as more conversational and is the everyday default in spoken English and casual writing: “Any problems so far?”
You’ll see some articles online claim a firm American-versus-British split on this point. That claim isn’t consistently supported, and different sources contradict each other on which dialect supposedly prefers which form. The more reliable pattern is about formality and sentence type, not region — treat any strict AmE/BrE rule here with caution.
Common Mistakes With “Any Problem” and “Any Problems”
Mistake: Is there any problems with the account? Correction: Are there any problems with the account? Explanation: The verb is only agrees with the singular problem.
Mistake: There are any problems with this design. Correction: There are some problems with this design. Explanation: Any doesn’t fit a plain positive statement here; some is the natural word for a stated fact.
Mistake: I don’t have no problems with the update. Correction: I don’t have any problems with the update. Explanation: English doesn’t use double negatives; any is the word negatives call for, not no.
Mistake: Any problems in this house need fixing before we move in. Correction: The problems in this house need fixing before we move in. Explanation: Once the issues are known and specific, use the, not any. Any signals something unspecified or hypothetical.
Similar Pairs: Any Question(s), Any Issue(s), Any Doubt(s)
The same singular/plural pattern applies to other countable nouns after any. Once you understand the rule for problem, it transfers directly.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| Is there any question? | Are there any questions? |
| Do you have any issue with this? | Do you have any issues with this? |
| I don’t have any doubt about it. | I don’t have any doubts about it. |
| Let me know if there’s any concern. | Let me know if there are any concerns. |
Other Ways to Say “Any Problem” or “Any Problems”
Depending on tone, you can substitute related words without changing the grammar pattern: any issue(s), any trouble, any difficulty/difficulties, any snag(s), any hitch(es), any concern(s). Note that trouble is usually uncountable (“any trouble,” not “any troubles” in most everyday use), so it doesn’t follow the same singular/plural switch as problem.
Quick Practice: Choose the Correct Form
- Fill in the blank: “___ there any problems with your account?”
- Fill in the blank: “___ there any problem with the plan?”
- Choose the correct form: “Did you run into (any problem / any problems) while traveling?”
- Correct the sentence: “Is there any problems with the delivery?”
- Correct the sentence: “There are any problems with this design.”
- Fill in the blank: “Call me if you notice ___ problem, no matter how small.”
- Identify the noun form: In “We haven’t found any problems yet,” is problems singular or plural?
- Apply the pattern: Rewrite “Is there any problem with the timeline?” using issue instead of problem.
Answer Key
- Are — the plural problems needs the plural verb are.
- Is — the singular problem needs the singular verb is.
- any problems — natural in an open-ended question about a trip where multiple issues could have come up.
- Are there any problems with the delivery? — fixes the is/problems mismatch.
- There are some problems with this design. — any doesn’t fit a plain positive statement; some does.
- any — this is the emphatic “no matter which” sense of any with a singular noun.
- Plural — problems is the plural form of the countable noun problem.
- Is there any issue with the timeline? — the same singular pattern applies directly to issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “any problem” or “any problems” grammatically correct?
Both are correct. “Any problem” refers to a single or general issue, often with an emphatic “no matter which” meaning, while “any problems” refers to an open-ended or unspecified number of issues.
Is “Is there any problems” correct?
No. The singular verb is doesn’t agree with the plural noun problems. Use “Are there any problems?” or “Is there any problem?” instead.
What should I say if there might be more than one issue?
Use the plural form: “If there are any problems, let us know.” The plural verb are must match the plural noun problems.
Which form is more common in everyday English?
“Any problems” is more common in spoken English and casual writing, especially in questions like “Any problems so far?” “Any problem” appears more often in formal or written contexts.
Is “any problem” appropriate for a professional email?
Yes. “Please let us know if you encounter any problem with the installation” reads as precise and formal, which suits professional correspondence well.
Does the same rule apply to “any issue” or “any issues”?
Yes. Issue is also a countable noun, so it follows the identical pattern: “any issue” for a single or general case, “any issues” for an open-ended or plural case.
Is there a real American vs. British English difference here?
Not a reliably documented one. Sources disagree on which dialect favors which form, and the more consistent factor is formality and sentence type rather than region.
What’s the difference between “no problem” and “any problem”?
They serve different functions. “No problem” is a fixed response, often used to mean “you’re welcome” or “that’s fine.” “Any problem” describes a possible issue and is used in questions, negatives, and conditionals.
Is “are there any problem” (singular) ever correct?
No. The plural verb are requires the plural noun problems: “Are there any problems?”
Can “any problem” refer to more than one problem?
Not directly. In its standard use, “any problem” refers to a single instance, even when that instance is general or hypothetical. For an unspecified number of issues, use “any problems.”
The Bottom Line
“Any problem” and “any problems” are both correct — the choice depends on whether you mean one issue or an open-ended number of them, and your verb has to agree with whichever noun you pick. A simple way to remember it: if your verb is is, pair it with problem; if your verb is are, pair it with problems. When in doubt, “Are there any problems?” is the safe, natural default for most everyday situations.
