Can anyone find someone to answer this?
Q. How are somebody, anybody, someone and anyone used?
A. Basically the same way some and any are used.
somebody/someone is used in positive sentences:
It appears that somebody camped here last night.
It appears that someone camped here last night.
anybody/anyone can be used in positive sentences when used as it doesn’t matter which:
You can get just about anybody to smile by smiling.
You can get just about anyone to smile by smiling.
anybody/anyone is used in positive sentences following never, hardly or without:
It seems there is never anybody home during the day.
It seems there is never anyone home during the day.
With this cooler weather, there is hardly anybody on the beach.
With this cooler weather, there is hardly anyone on the beach.
A tree in a wilderness area could fall without anybody hearing it.
A tree in a wilderness area could fall without anyone hearing it.
anybody/anyone is used in negative sentences:
There isn’t anybody here.
There isn’t anyone here.
anybody/anyone can be used in a positive sentence when the sense of it is negative:
I decided not to loan them anybody from our team.
I decided not to loan them anyone from our team.
anybody/anyone is used in questions:
Does anybody really know what time it is?
Does anyone really know what time it is?
somebody/someone is used in questions where we hope the answer is “yes”:
Can somebody help me lift this heavy box?
Can someone help me lift this heavy box?
somebody/someone is used in questions when offering or requesting:
Could I please have somebody return my call?
Could I please have someone return my call?
Q. How do the -body and -one forms differ?
A. You can find an explation of the minor differences here.
Do you have any candy? May I have some?
some and any are words used when the exact amount is not important. I never think about when to use one or the other. I just use what sounds correct. After some research, I find that there are rules.
some is used in positive sentences
I have some gold coins.
any can be used in positive sentences when used as it doesn’t matter which:
Here are the gold coins. You can have any one you want.
any is used in positive sentences following never, hardly or without:
We never have any gold coins.
We hardly have any gold coins left.
We now find ourselves without any gold coins.
any is used in negative sentences:
I do not have any gold coins.
any can be used in a positive sentence when the sense of it is negative
I refused to give them any gold coins. (I did not give them any gold coins.)
any is used in questions:
Do you have any gold coins?
some is used in questions where we hope the answer is “yes”:
Did grandpa give you some of his gold coins?
some is used in questions when offering or requesting
Could I have some of those gold coins, please?
By the way, the title of this post fits these rules:
Do you have any candy? (Used in a question.)
May I have some? (Used in a question that is requesting.)
Captain may I? Yes you may.
Strictly speaking, can means to be able to and may means to be permitted to.
I can lift heavy weights.
Can he run the entire marathon?
May I use your weights?
May I sign up for the marathon?
May I be excused from the table?
These days, in informal company, may is often replaced with can.
Mispronounced then misspelled
realtor not realator
recur not reoccur
sherbet not sherbert
supposedly not supposably
triathlon not triathalon
Mispronounced then misspelled
nuptial not nuptual
often not ofen
perspire not prespire
prescription not perscription
probably not probly
Mispronounced then misspelled
library not libary
masonry not masonary
mayonnaise not mannaise
miniature not miniture
nuclear not nucular
Mispronounced then misspelled
candidate not cannidate
federal not fedral
foliage not foilage
height not heighth
jewelry not jewlery
Me, myself and I
Let’s attempt to clear up the confusion with the use of me, myself and I.
If you are doing something, use I:
My wife and I went to the baseball game.
If something is being done to you, use me:
The package was sent to my wife and me.
To test your choice, just remove the other person:
I went to the baseball game.
The package was sent to me.
Only use myself if there is an I previously in the sentence:
I, myself, haven’t had that problem.
I gave myself a black eye when I ran into the closed door.
Another installment of mispronounced then misspelled
surprise not suprise
used to not use to
utmost not upmost
verbiage not verbage
They almost sound the same
advice is guidance. I will receive advice from the expert.
advise is to give guidance. The expert will advise me.
allusion is an indirect reference. As beautiful as Cinderella on her way to the ball.
illusion is a false image. A mirage is just an optical illusion.
compliment is a nice thing said about someone. He paid a compliment to the lady.
complement is something that completes. The red wine complements the roast.