In the following question, a sentence is divided into three parts. Identify the part that contains an error in standard English usage, or select 4 if there is no error: The student asked me if (1)/ I knew that Kalidas was the greater (2)/ than any other poet. (3)/ No error. (4)

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of comparative and superlative forms of adjectives. The sentence is about a student asking whether Kalidas is superior to other poets. You must locate the part that misuses the comparative form or confirm that the sentence has no error.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- (1) The student asked me if
- (2) I knew that Kalidas was the greater
- (3) than any other poet.
- (4) No error indicates that the sentence might be correct as is.
- The intended meaning is that Kalidas is the greatest among all other poets.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept is the correct use of comparative (greater) and superlative (greatest) forms, especially with phrases like than any other and with the article the. When we compare one person with all others in a group, we normally use the superlative: the greatest of all or greater than any other but without using the in front of greater. The structure the greater than any other poet is incorrect; it mixes the article the (used with superlatives) with a comparative form greater followed by than any other.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Part (1) The student asked me if is grammatically correct as an introductory reporting clause.Step 2: Look at part (2): I knew that Kalidas was the greater. The use of the greater suggests a comparison but is incomplete and awkward by itself.Step 3: Part (3): than any other poet completes the comparison. Combining (2) and (3), we get Kalidas was the greater than any other poet, which is ungrammatical.Step 4: The correct versions are either Kalidas was greater than any other poet (without the) or Kalidas was the greatest of all poets (using the superlative greatest).Step 5: Thus the error is specifically in part (2), where the form the greater is used incorrectly.

Verification / Alternative check:
Rewrite the sentence correctly: The student asked me if I knew that Kalidas was greater than any other poet or The student asked me if I knew that Kalidas was the greatest poet of all. Both options sound natural and follow established grammatical rules. The original phrase the greater than any other poet does not appear in standard English and mixes two patterns. Parts (1) and (3) are otherwise fine, so the error must be in part (2).

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Part (1) is a normal reporting clause with no tense or agreement problems.
- Part (3) than any other poet correctly introduces the group being compared, as long as it follows a proper comparative form.
- No error (4) cannot be chosen because we have identified a definite misuse of comparative and superlative forms in part (2).

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes combine structures like the greatest of all and greater than any other without realising that the rules change slightly. Another common mistake is to leave the article the in front of a comparative adjective when it should be omitted. When you see than any other in a sentence, it almost always requires a comparative form without the or a separate superlative structure without than. Remember: either greater than any other poet or the greatest poet of all, not a hybrid of the two.

Final Answer:
The error is in part 2. The sentence should read: The student asked me if I knew that Kalidas was greater than any other poet (or was the greatest poet of all).