Question

Fill in the blank with the most suitable option:
The boys ate _________ sandwiches, but they didn’t drink __________ milk at all.
(a)some / no
(b)any / no
(c)some / any
(d)some /some

Answer 1

Hint: The quantifiers some, any and no are a kind of determiner. A quantifier is a word that usually goes before a noun to express the quantity of the object; for example, a little milk.

Complete answer:Let us analyze the options given to us in this question:
(a)'some / no'-‘some’ is a quantifier used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity’ and ‘no is a quantifier used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns for indicating a complete or almost complete lack or zero quantity of.’Therefore, option (a)is incorrect as ‘no’ cannot be used for the second blank since there is no specification.
(b)‘any / no'- ‘any’ which means ‘one or some or every or all without specification’ and ‘no’.Therefore, option (b) is incorrect as ‘any’ cannot be used for the first blank since it would need a negative term before it.
(c)‘some / any'-It is correct as it complies with the context of the sentence.
(d)‘some / some', refers to ‘some’ for the second blank which cannot be used for a negative phrase.Therefore, option (d) is incorrect.

Note:In this question, it will be helpful for the students to have an understanding of the difference between various quantifiers and the context in which they are used.