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Autor:  Dale-USA
E-mail:  dale_thomas2004@yahoo.com.br
Data:  24/ABR/2012 2:03 PM
Assunto:  No/Any/Some
 
Mensagem:  Henry, you ask a very interesting question.  Renan did a good job with the post.  Let me add a few comments.

Ele não conhece nenhum vizinho.
(1) He doesn't know any neighbor.
This requires context, but it's possible.  You can also say "He doesn't know a single neighbor."
(2) He doesn't know any neighbors.
The second response is is the more natural sounding of the two answers.  Strange that the answer is in the singular in Portuguese but sounds more natural in the plural when said in English.

I do not think any "rule" is involved because both are correct.  However, the plural is preferred (to my ears) to the singular.

 




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 English Made in Brazil -- English, Portuguese, & contrastive linguistics
No/Any/Some  –  Heny  24/ABR/2012, 10:22 AM
No/Any/Some  –  Renan  24/ABR/2012, 11:47 AM
 No/Any/Some  –  Dale-USA  24/ABR/2012, 2:03 PM
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