Fill in the blank with the correct option:
I asked many people the way to the station but _____ of them had any clue about it.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → none
Complete sentence: I asked many people the way to the station but none of them had any clue about it. "But" sets up a contrast with "I asked many people". Many were asked, yet not one of them knew the way, so the blank takes none.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) none (answer) | None means not one, not any of a group. It is followed by "of them", "of us" and so on. Any is used after a negative word, so "none … had any clue" is the usual pattern. | We invited ten friends, but none of them could come. |
| (2) some | a certain number of a group. In a positive statement English uses "some clue", not "any clue". "Some of them had a clue" would leave no contrast after "but". | Some of the students stayed back after class. |
| (3) few | a small number, hardly any. "Few of them had any clue" can be said, but it would mean that a small number did know the way. "None" gives the full contrast with "many people" that "but" points to. | Few people came to the meeting because of the rain. |
| (4) everyone | every person. It is not followed by "of them". "Every one of them" would be needed. It would contradict the contrast that "but" sets up. | Everyone in the class passed the test. |