anybody

anybody — pronoun

1. any person, no matter who — used mainly in questions, after 'not', and in 'if' s

1.代名詞A2
釋義

any person, no matter who — used mainly in questions, after 'not', and in 'if' sentences to talk about people in general rather than one specific person.

例句

Is anybody home? I rang the doorbell three times.

question form: Is anybody + noun/adverb

Greta didn't tell anybody about the surprise party for her sister.

negative pattern: not + anybody

同義詞
  • anyone

    almost identical in meaning; 'anyone' feels slightly more formal in writing

  • somebody

    preferred in positive statements when a person exists but is unknown

反義詞
  • nobody

    means zero people; replaces 'not anybody' in subject position

文法句型

Is anybody + verb-ing?

not + anybody

if anybody + verb

用法筆記

Most natural in questions, negatives, and 'if' clauses. In positive statements, 'anybody' usually means 'every person' (as in 'Anybody can do it'). When making a positive statement about an unknown specific person, prefer 'somebody' instead.

常見錯誤

❌I saw anybody at the park yesterday.
✅I saw somebody at the park yesterday.
💡use 'somebody' for a specific person in positive statements; 'anybody' belongs in questions and negatives.
❌Anybody didn't answer the phone.
✅Nobody answered the phone.' OR 'Anybody didn't' is wrong
💡'anybody' cannot be the subject of a negative verb; use 'nobody' instead.