Question

Find if there is any grammatical error in any part of the sentence below and mark that part as your answer. If there is no error, mark 5 as your answer.
So longer as/you are honest/and forthright, they will/support you in this task.

• A. So longer as
• B. you are honest
• C. and forthright, they will
• D. support you in this task
• E. No error

Hint:

Standard phrases like "As long as," "As soon as," and "As far as" always use the base form of the adjective. If you see a comparative degree (like longer, \textitsooner, or \textitfarther) inside these specific "As...as" structures, it is almost certainly a grammatical error.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept: This question tests the correct usage of Correlative Conjunctions and fixed idiomatic expressions. Certain phrases in English function as a single unit to express conditions or time and cannot be altered by changing the degree of the adjective within them.
Step 1: Identifying the idiomatic expression.
The phrase intended here is a conditional conjunction used to mean "provided that" or "during the time that." The standard idiomatic expression is "As long as" or sometimes "So long as."

Step 2: Detecting the error in Part (A).
The sentence uses "So longer as." In this specific conjunctional phrase, the adjective "long" must remain in its positive degree. Using the comparative degree "longer" is grammatically incorrect and breaks the idiom. The correct sentence should be: "So long as you are honest..." or "As long as you are honest..."