some/any...

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I am wondering about the below question.

Anybody didn't come.
Somebody didn't come.

In questions and negatives we more often use any, anybody etc.
But why the first sentence is incorrect?

A good day

 

[Casiopea]

Anybody didn't come.
Somebody didn't come.

1. Anybody didn't come. (Not OK)
2. Somebody didn't come. (OK) (i.e., A certain person didn't come.)

Sentence 1. is odd because 'any' has a wide semantic reference. For example, Please take any one of these pens. You have a wide choice. To make 'any' specific, or to narrow down its semantic field of reference, a negative is added, like this,

3. Didn't anyone come?
4. No one came.
5. Not any one (person) came.

 

[nautes20]

Hi, Casiopea!!!

Thanks for your answer...

I can't tell "Anybody didn't come." from
"Not any one (person) came."

I am looking forward to your explanatios...

Best regards...

 

[Casiopea]

Hi, Casiopea!!!

Thanks for your answer...

1. I can't tell "Anybody didn't come." from
2. "Not any one (person) came."

I am looking forward to your explanatios...

Best regards...

You're welcome.

In 1., "Anyone" is the subject. The verb is "come" and it's negated by "didn't". Sentence 1. means, an unknown group of people within an unknown group (i.e., Anyone) didn't come. It's rather non-specific, wouldn't you agree? Q: Who came? A: Anyone. :shock: What does that mean? Should someone, a known person, group come?

In 2., "person" is the subject". The word "not" negates the "any one". It means, not a single person.

Hope that helps.

 

[nautes20]

Re: Thanks a lot....

...

 

[hela]

Dear teachers,

I'm writing about the same subject. Here is an exercise I have done, would you please correct it?

Complete these sentences with some and any.

1) There is seldom any world news in the “The Daily Star”.

2) Joan’s mother scarcely ever let her have any friends round.
(What is the meaning of "round" here?)

3) There can hardly be any doubt that he is the best tennis player in the world.

4) If you have any / some (?) old books that you don’t want, could you bring them into school?

5) Someof the money collected will go to helping children with heart disease.

6) Any of his paintings, even the smallest, would today sell for thousands of pounds.

Best regards,
Hela

 

[hela]

Dear teachers,

Here is another exercise about the same topic.

Complete these sentences with some and any + one / body / where …

1) While you are making dinner, I’ll get on with something else.

2) He didn’t want anyone to do with the arrangements for the party.

3) Diane knew she was somewhere in the park, but not exactly where.

4) He thought the bad weather was something to do with all the satellites in space.

5) Hardly anyone turned up to the meeting.

6) She was a teacher from somewhere near Frankfurt.

7) After the accident Paul didn’t go anywhere near a horse for two years.

8) I’ve borrowed John’s binoculars. If anything happens to them, he’ll be really angry.
(is “something” possible here?)


Thank you for your help.
Hela

 

[Casiopea]

2) 'round' is short for around.
4) Either any or some is OK. Please note, ...bring them to school
6) ...would sell for thousands of pounds today.