Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word from the given options:-
I hardly know ------------- in the town.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → anyone
"Hardly" with any-words:
- Hardly means almost not; it is a negative word.
- Like "not", it is followed by any-words (anyone, anything, anywhere), not by some-words, and never by a second negative word.
- Clue word: "hardly", a negative word.
- This sentence: "I hardly know ..." means "I know almost no one", so the pronoun is anyone.
- Complete sentence: I hardly know anyone in the town.
Example: There was hardly anyone at the station.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: someone — Incorrect. Someone is used in positive statements; after the negative "hardly" we use anyone.
Example: Someone is knocking at the door.
Option 3: everyone — Incorrect. Everyone means all people; "hardly know everyone" does not give the sense "almost no one".
Example: Everyone in the class passed the test.
Option 4: no one — Incorrect. No one is itself negative; "hardly ... no one" is a double negative, which is not standard English.
Example: No one answered the phone.
Contrast: "hardly" is already negative, so it takes anyone; "hardly ... no one" is a double negative.