In the following English grammar error detection question, identify the part of the sentence that contains an error, or choose "No error" if the sentence is correct: A business venture or personal life has greater chances of experiencing success and fulfilment if the outlook is more temperate than indifferent or radical.

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: 3

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question examines correct comparative structures in English. The sentence compares different types of outlooks and suggests that a temperate outlook is better than an indifferent or radical one. The test is whether the linking word with "temperate" has been chosen correctly according to standard usage.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The segment in part 3 reads: "if the outlook is more temperate to indifferent or radical."
  • The earlier parts speak of "A business venture or personal life" and "greater chances of experiencing success and fulfilment".
  • The idea is to show comparison or preference among outlooks.
  • The sentence belongs to a formal exam context, so it should follow standard comparative patterns.


Concept / Approach:
When English speakers compare one quality with others, especially in the sense of preference or contrast, common expressions include "rather than", "than", and "as opposed to". The phrase "more temperate to indifferent or radical" is not idiomatic. Instead, we normally say "more temperate than indifferent or radical" or "more temperate rather than indifferent or radical". The preposition "to" here is incorrect and must be replaced by "than" or a similar comparative connector. In examination grammar, this misused preposition is considered an error in part 3.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Read the clause "if the outlook is more temperate to indifferent or radical" and focus on the word immediately after "more temperate".Recognise that "more" signals a comparative structure and should usually be followed by "than" when comparing with another option.Note that "to" does not fit a comparative construction of this kind.Replace "to" with "than", giving "more temperate than indifferent or radical".Check that the revised sentence clearly expresses that a temperate outlook is better than an indifferent or radical outlook.


Verification / Alternative check:
The corrected sentence is "A business venture or personal life has greater chances of experiencing success and fulfilment if the outlook is more temperate than indifferent or radical." This is grammatically correct and semantically clear. It may also be written as "more temperate rather than indifferent or radical", which is stylistically fine. Either way, the original use of "to" was wrong.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Part 1 correctly uses "A business venture or personal life has greater chances" because the entire phrase is treated as a single subject. Part 2, "of experiencing success and fulfilment", is also grammatically correct. Part 4, "No error", cannot be chosen because we have identified a definite preposition error in part 3. Therefore, only part 3 is faulty.


Common Pitfalls:
Many learners are influenced by phrases such as "prefer something to something else" and may think that any comparative use can take "to". However, "prefer" and "temperate" belong to different patterns. "Prefer A to B" is correct, but "more temperate to B" is not. When you see "more" before an adjective, always check whether "than" should follow. This single rule helps you avoid many comparative errors in competitive exams.


Final Answer:
The error appears in part 3 because "more temperate to indifferent or radical" should read "more temperate than indifferent or radical".

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