Meaning of "Face to face"

[Ludmila]

ESL/EFL Test "Up to his ears", question 3

I prefer to talk to people face to face rather than to talk on the phone.

(a) in person
(b) facing them
(c) looking at them
(d) seeing them

ESL/EFL Test "Up to his ears", answer 3

I prefer to talk to people in person rather than to talk on the phone.

Correct answer: (a) in person

Your answer was: correct
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Hi, I like your tests but there is a mistake in sentence 3.
Why did you put "to" after rather than?
It is a bad mistake.

Ludmila

[Alan]

Hi Ludmila,

Please tell me about the mistake.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Progressive Forms

[Mister Micawber]

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I don't see any mistake, Ludmila-- the to is optional.
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Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[JJ]

Hi Alan,

I chose the answer for 'facing them'. Why 'facing them' is not anwer? Please explain to me. Thanks

J

[Yankee]

Hi JJ

Face to face means 'in person' or 'in each other's presence' and is therefore logical because the rest of the sentence refers to communication that is the opposite (i.e. NOT in person or in each other's presence).

If you say 'facing them', the opposite would be 'with my back to them' -- which isn't a logical or normal alternative for a discussion. 'Facing them' is definitely is not an opposite for talk to them on the phone.

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Hi Ludmila

I agree 100% with the gents. There is nothing wrong with using 'to' after 'rather than' in the sentence. As MM said, it's optional.

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English