Prepositions – Major Changes ‘On’ vs ‘In’ People’s Lifestyle

prepositionsverbsword-choice

I was wondering which verb below sounds more natural in the following case. Also please let me know which one of the prepositions below is grammatically correct?

  • Due to financial problems, it is hard for young people to settle down these days.
    Also, it seems that married people are more tied down than single people. This issue has………………………………
    Some social phenomena like white life etc.

a. imposed major changes on / in people’s lifestyle during the two past decades.
b. inflicted major changes on / in people’s lifestyle during the two past decades.
c. caused major changes on / in people’s lifestyle during the two past decades.
d. brought about major changes on / in people’s lifestyle during the two past decades.

I think the correct preposition here is "in" rather than "on".
Also, all the verbs listed above sound natural and idiomatic to me with difference between their shade of meanings.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Best Answer

Basically, you inflict or impose changes ON something, but you cause or bring changes IN something.

You can use any of these verbs, but because the intended meaning is that the impact on people's lives is negative, I think inflict is the best, as it is the most negative of the four:

To inflict harm or damage on someone or something means to make them suffer it.

  • Rebels say they have inflicted heavy casualties on government forces. (Collins)
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