What is the differences between any one and anyone in the sentences?

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It was simply impossible to anyone of us to get into the camp because none of us knew the password.
According to the answer,it tells me I should replace the anyone to any one？but why?I think the anyone is reasonable.

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@swamp,

swamp wrote:

It was simply impossible to anyone of us to get into the camp because none of us knew the password.
According to the answer,it tells me I should replace the anyone to any one？but why?I think the anyone is reasonable.

"It was simply impossible for any one of us..."
or
"It was simply impossible for one of us..."

Notice that "any one" (two words) and "anyone" (one word) are different. The change in preposition from "to" to "for" is also necessary. It helps to think of
"(im)possible for...to" as a set phrase or collocation.

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@FBM,

Thanks for your answer,but sorry,you have misunderstood me.I just want to know the differences between any one and anyone in this sentences.

1 Reply

@swamp,

You can't use "anyone" because it is indefinite and doesn't match the definitive (limiting) phrase "of us." If you take out "of us," you can use "anyone."

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@swamp,

Quote:

It was simply impossible to anyone of us to get into the camp because none of us knew the password.
According to the answer,it tells me I should replace the anyone to any one？but why?I think the anyone is reasonable.

My best guess is that is has to do with the structure of the sentence and internal consistency. "none of us" is different from "no one" because the second would include everybody whereas the first would be limited to none of a specific group.

Likewise, it's not impossible for "anyone" (i.e, everyone in this usage) to get in. It's just impossible for any "one" of a limited number (a specific group).

Apart from the grammar police, though, I don't think anyone would care or be confused by either usage (anyone or any one).

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@FBM,

It is so kind of you to reply me at once.I have got it,by the way,where are you from?

1 Reply

@FBM,

Quote:

You can't use "anyone" because it is indefinite and doesn't match the definitive (limiting) phrase "of us." If you take out "of us," you can use "anyone."

Yeah, that sounds right. I was going to say that (i.e., leave out "of us") after referring to "sentence structure," but I didn't get around to it.

PS: I didn't see your follow-up response, FBM, until after I had composed and posted mine. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered.

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@layman,

Thank you,both of you have helped me a lot.

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@swamp,

swamp wrote:

It is so kind of you to reply me at once.I have got it,by the way,where are you from?

You're very welcome. I'm American, but I'm living in S. Korea. I teach English at a university.

1 Reply

@FBM,

That sounds good.I am a chinese student,and I major in English in university.I think we can be good friends.

1 Reply

@swamp,

Cool. Feel free to ask me questions anytime. Which part of China are you in?

1 Reply

@FBM,

I live in Shanxi province,but now I study in JIangsu provinve.

1 Reply

@swamp,

Ah, OK. So you're just across the water from us. Very Happy

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What is the differences between any one and anyone in the sentences?

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