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I found on a research paper the following statement:

Is any particular images satisfying the requirements ?

I thought any can only be used with singular terms. So I was surprised when I've seen "images" rather than "image".

Am I correct?

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2 Answers 2

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I would take that to be a typo. The verb should agree with the noun:

  • Is any particular image satisfying the requirements?
  • Are any particular images satisfying the requirements?

Any can be safely used in both cases. Have a look at these example sentences from Wiktionary:

  • Choose any items you want. [items — plural]
  • Any person may apply. [person — singular]
  • I haven't got any money. [money — uncountable]

Merriam-Webster defines any as follows:

  1. one or some indiscriminately of whatever kind [...]
  2. one, some, or all indiscriminately of whatever quantity [...]

Emphasis mine.

Lastly, note psmears' comment that it might be more appropriate to use present simple rather than present continuous in your case (though further context might justify either). I will also add that there should be no space before the question mark.

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    Note that the sentences here, though correct, are unusual: it's far more common to say Does any particular image satisfy the requirements?, which has a slightly different meaning - but without more context it's impossible to know which is appropriate...
    – psmears
    Commented Apr 16, 2011 at 10:25
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    @Robusto: Yes, I know that RegDwight is well aware of what I'm saying :-p I'm just pointing it out for the benefit of others who might otherwise misinterpret "This is grammatically correct" as "This is what you actually want to say/write" :)
    – psmears
    Commented Apr 16, 2011 at 11:13
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    @Karl and psmears: I've updated the answer accordingly. @Robusto: you misspelled "9.9999% perfect".
    – RegDwigнt
    Commented Apr 16, 2011 at 12:43
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    @RegDwight: Just the sort of misperception I expect from the NNS contingent here.
    – Robusto
    Commented Apr 16, 2011 at 12:58
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    @user239460: Because, in general, whether specific images "satisfy requirements" is either true or false - it doesn't tend to change over time - so we use the present simple as it's a generalisation or habit (cf. "I like cats", or "I go to the beach every day"). Present continous would imply that something special was happening right now that wasn't necessarily true at other times (cf "I am going to the beach").
    – psmears
    Commented Jun 27, 2017 at 6:27
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Is one out of all particular images satisfying the requirements would exactly be what any means.

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