Anybody want soup?

[Winwin2011]

The following context is copied from"Cambridege Grammar of English. A comprehensive Guide- Spoken and Written English Grammar and Usage"

In interrogatives, an initial auxillary is often unnecessary, even when the subject is present:

A: Anybody want soup?
B: No thank you.
(understood: Does anybody want soup?)

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Why don't the authors say,"Anybody wants soup?"? Thanks for your help.

[Barb_D]

Because we understand that that the "does" is implied.

[emsr2d2]

The following context is copied from"Cambridege Grammar of English. A comprehensive Guide- Spoken and Written English Grammar and Usage"

In interrogatives, an initial auxillary is often unnecessary, even when the subject is present:

A: Anybody want soup?
B: No thank you.
(understood: Does anybody want soup?)

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Why don't the authors say,"Anybody wants soup?"? Thanks for your help.

For the same reason that when we change a statement into an interrogative using "Does", the verb is just the bare infinitive.

He stands on the platform.
Does he stand on the platform?

She wants some soup.
Does she want some soup?

They sit on the floor.
Do they sit on the floor?

As you can see, when the third person singular is involved, it takes the "s" ending in the statement, but no "s" ending in the interrogative.

With the shortened version of the sentence that you posted, the "Does" is implied.