Anybody vs Somebody
Difference between anybody and somebody seems to puzzle many as most of the time they are regarded as words with similar meanings. Hence, they are interchanged wrongly. Strictly speaking, they should not be interchanged since they are to be construed as two different words that convey different meanings. The word anybody is used in negative and interrogative sentences while the word somebody is used in affirmative sentences. Also, both somebody and anybody are pronouns. Both somebody and anybody refer to an unidentified person.
What does Anybody mean?
The word anybody is used in the sense of anyone. Also, anybody is used in negative and interrogative sentences. Observe the two sentences given below.
Did you see anybody?
I don’t know anybody in this area.
In both the sentences, you can find that the word anybody is used in the sense of ‘anyone.’ Hence, the meaning of the first sentence would be ‘anyone can do this.’ In the same way, the meaning of the second sentence would be ‘anybody can lift this box’. In these sentences, the word anybody is used to refer to a person without identifying which person that is. Also, you will see that usually anybody is used in negative sentences and interrogative sentences.
It is important to know that the word anybody is used in the special sense of ‘possibility’ as you can see from the sentence ‘anybody can do this’. In this sentence, you get the special idea that there is a possibility that anyone can do it.
What does Somebody mean?
The word somebody is used in the sense of someone. Moreover, somebody is used in affirmative sentences. Observe the two sentences given below.
Somebody should come forward to do it.
Somebody may answer this question.
In both the sentences, you can see that the word somebody is used in the sense of someone. Hence, the meaning of the first sentence would be ‘someone should come forward to do it.’ In the same manner, the meaning of the second sentence would be ‘someone may answer this question’. You can see that in both of these sentences, the speaker uses the word somebody to speak about a person without identifying him or her. As you can see somebody is used in affirmative sentences.
On the other hand, the word somebody is used in the special sense of ‘hope’ as you can see in the sentence ‘somebody may answer this question’. In this sentence, you can see that some sort of hope is expressed that someone may answer the question.
What is the difference between Anybody and Somebody?
• The word anybody is used in the sense of ‘anyone’.
• On the other hand, the word somebody is used in the sense of ‘someone’.
• Both somebody and anybody are pronouns.
• Both somebody and anybody refer to an unidentified person.
• The word anybody is used in the special sense of ‘possibility.’
• The word somebody is used in the special sense of ‘hope.’
• Usually anybody is used in negative sentences and interrogative sentences.
• Somebody is used in affirmative sentences.
These are the differences between the two words, somebody and anybody.