Question

Fill in the blank using a suitable option:
___________ of the boys could answer my question.

• A. Someone
• B. None of one
• C. Everyone
• D. Anyone

Answer 1

The correct option is D Anyone

The word, 'someone' means 'an unknown or unspecified person'. It is used in affirmative clauses. 'Anyone' refers to any person but not to any particular person'. An example is: 'Has anyone seen my purse?' 'Everyone' means 'every person', but no one in particular.

The words, 'someone', 'anyone' and 'everyone' are called indefinite pronouns. They do not refer to any specific noun and cannot be followed by a preposition. Hence, options A, B and C are incorrect.

The words, 'any one' is an adjective phrase that refers to any single member out of a group of people, who is unidentified. Here, the word, 'any' is an indefinite pronoun and 'one' is a determiner. It is commonly followed by the preposition 'of'. This phrase is the most appropriate to fill the blank. The sentence, 'Any one of the boys could answer my question' conveys the meaning more clearly than 'anyone'. Hence, option D is correct.