Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option:
A: Are my shoes in the box?
B: No, there ________________ in the box.

• A. isn't anything
• B. isn't nothing
• C. aren't things
• D. isn't any

Answer 1

The correct option is A isn't anything

Option B: 'Isn't nothing' is wrong, 'nothing' is already a negative word and it doesn't form a complete meaning with 'isn't' ('is not'). Also, there's another negation already present 'no'. Hence option B is incorrect.

Option C: 'Aren't things' sounds a bit strange. There is no need for a plural form since the answer is in the negative. Hence option C is incorrect.

Option D: 'Isn't any' sounds incomplete, because 'any' here refers to a number of things. There is only one pair of shoes in question "my shoes". Hence option D is incorrect.

Option A: 'Isn't anything' is the most suitable phrase. 'Anything' is generally used in negative statements, and it answers the question here. Hence option A is correct.