English grammar error-spotting (concessive ‘‘Much as …’’ vs. ‘‘As much as …’’): Choose the erroneous part; evaluate correct concessive construction linking two clauses: ‘‘As much as I admire him for his sterling qualities. / I cannot excuse him for / being unfair to his friends. / No error.’’

Given data

• A: ‘‘As much as I admire him for his sterling qualities.’’
• B: ‘‘I cannot excuse him for’’
• C: ‘‘being unfair to his friends.’’
• D: ‘‘No error.’’

Concept / ApproachThe idiomatic concessive opener is ‘‘Much as I admire …, …’’ (meaning ‘‘Although I admire …’’). ‘‘As much as’’ can compare quantities, but as a concessive subordinator it is non-standard in formal usage and is flagged in exams.

Step-by-Step evaluationPart A should read ‘‘Much as I admire him for his sterling qualities, …’’

Correction‘‘Much as I admire him for his sterling qualities, I cannot excuse him for being unfair to his friends.’’

Common pitfalls

• Using ‘‘As much as’’ in place of concessive ‘‘Much as’’ in formal writing.

Final AnswerAs much as I admire him for his sterling qualities.