/ˈsʌmbədi/
Translation
A person, when you do not know or do not say who.
Word origin
From some and body, because body once meant a person.
- Origin
- Middle English
- Root
- some + body
Examples
.
"Somebody" means a person we cannot name.
, ?
Here "somebody" means any person who is able to help.
.
"Somebody" takes a singular verb, so we say "is" and not "are".
Used in
Stories
(5)Grammar articles
(18)Both, either and neither in English: the two-of-something words, agreement traps, and Me neither
Causative have and get in English: have something done, get something done and having someone do it
Dummy subjects in English: it's raining, there's a problem, and why the subject slot is never empty
Ellipsis and substitution in English: I think so, neither do I, and the words you are allowed to leave out
Emphasis in English: I do like it, my own, the very, and how to push back
Indirect questions in English: Could you tell me where the station is, and the word order that goes with it
Mixed conditionals in English: past causes with present results, and present causes with past results
Modals of deduction in English: must be, might be, could be and can't be
Nominalisation in English: arrive becomes arrival, decide becomes decision, and why written English turns actions into things
Advanced passive structures in English: the get-passive, it is said that, and passives with two objects
Passive voice in English: rules, examples and when to use it
Past perfect tense: had plus past participle, and when English actually needs it
Present perfect continuous: have been doing, and how it differs from the present perfect
Question tags in English: the mirror rule, aren't I, and tags after let's and imperatives
Reporting verbs in English: admit, deny, suggest, promise, and the pattern welded to each one
The subjunctive and the unreal past in English: I suggest he go, if I were you, and it's time we left
Verb patterns with objects in English: want somebody to do, make somebody do, and see somebody doing
Wish and if only in English: wish + past, wish + past perfect, wish + would, and why I wish I would is wrong
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Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 8.