Correct way to use gerunds?
I'm having a debate on whether it is better to use gerund or past tense in my science report. Please have a look at the sentences below.
When blowing into the solution, CO2 was introduced to the test tube, causing the colour to change from yellow to red.
When blowing into the solution, CO2 was introduced to the test tube which caused the colour to change from yellow to red.
To my knowledge, "Blowing" in both sentences served as a gerund which did not affect the overall tense of the observation. However, after setting the time with "was introduced", I'm wondering whether it is ok to use another gerund (causing ) or better to keep using past tense (Caused).
If the use of gerund is acceptable, should it always be separated by a comma from the previous phrase which was written in past tense?
Many thanks!
tenses
asked 12 hours ago
Eukaryotic_soldierEukaryotic_soldier
11
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I'm having a debate on whether it is better to use gerund or past tense in my science report. Please have a look at the sentences below.
When blowing into the solution, CO2 was introduced to the test tube, causing the colour to change from yellow to red.
When blowing into the solution, CO2 was introduced to the test tube which caused the colour to change from yellow to red.
To my knowledge, "Blowing" in both sentences served as a gerund which did not affect the overall tense of the observation. However, after setting the time with "was introduced", I'm wondering whether it is ok to use another gerund (causing ) or better to keep using past tense (Caused).
If the use of gerund is acceptable, should it always be separated by a comma from the previous phrase which was written in past tense?
Many thanks!
tenses
asked 12 hours ago
Eukaryotic_soldierEukaryotic_soldier
11
New contributor
Eukaryotic_soldier is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Two different issues: First, either "causing ..." or "which caused" is perfectly acceptable; and neither requires a comma. Second,. "When blowing into the solution, CO2 was introduced" implies that these were two separate events which both happened at the same time. I would have written "By blowing into ..."; or "CO2 was introduced to the test tube by blowing into the solution, causing ..."
– TrevorD
12 hours ago
3
None of these participles are gerunds. A gerund is not just any word ending in -ing. A gerund is specifically a present participle that is used as a noun. Both blowing and causing are not being used as nouns here, but purely as verbs. With that out of the way, 1 and 2 are equally fine but seeing how this is a science report, one can be preferable or indeed mandated over the other, depending on what particular style guide you have to adhere to in your specific domain.
– RegDwigнt♦
12 hours ago
Thank you! If both blowing and causing are not being used as nouns here, what is the correct way to mix present and past tense together? I always thought verb tenses should be consistent throughout the whole sentence.
– Eukaryotic_soldier
11 hours ago
add a comment |
I'm having a debate on whether it is better to use gerund or past tense in my science report. Please have a look at the sentences below.
When blowing into the solution, CO2 was introduced to the test tube, causing the colour to change from yellow to red.
When blowing into the solution, CO2 was introduced to the test tube which caused the colour to change from yellow to red.
To my knowledge, "Blowing" in both sentences served as a gerund which did not affect the overall tense of the observation. However, after setting the time with "was introduced", I'm wondering whether it is ok to use another gerund (causing ) or better to keep using past tense (Caused).
If the use of gerund is acceptable, should it always be separated by a comma from the previous phrase which was written in past tense?
Many thanks!
tenses
asked 12 hours ago
Eukaryotic_soldierEukaryotic_soldier
11
New contributor
Eukaryotic_soldier is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I'm having a debate on whether it is better to use gerund or past tense in my science report. Please have a look at the sentences below.
When blowing into the solution, CO2 was introduced to the test tube, causing the colour to change from yellow to red.
When blowing into the solution, CO2 was introduced to the test tube which caused the colour to change from yellow to red.
To my knowledge, "Blowing" in both sentences served as a gerund which did not affect the overall tense of the observation. However, after setting the time with "was introduced", I'm wondering whether it is ok to use another gerund (causing ) or better to keep using past tense (Caused).
If the use of gerund is acceptable, should it always be separated by a comma from the previous phrase which was written in past tense?
Many thanks!
tenses
tenses
asked 12 hours ago
Eukaryotic_soldierEukaryotic_soldier
11
New contributor
Eukaryotic_soldier is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
Eukaryotic_soldierEukaryotic_soldier
11
New contributor
Eukaryotic_soldier is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
Eukaryotic_soldierEukaryotic_soldier
11
New contributor
Eukaryotic_soldier is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
Eukaryotic_soldierEukaryotic_soldier
11
asked 12 hours ago
Eukaryotic_soldierEukaryotic_soldier
11
11
New contributor
Eukaryotic_soldier is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Eukaryotic_soldier is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Eukaryotic_soldier is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Two different issues: First, either "causing ..." or "which caused" is perfectly acceptable; and neither requires a comma. Second,. "When blowing into the solution, CO2 was introduced" implies that these were two separate events which both happened at the same time. I would have written "By blowing into ..."; or "CO2 was introduced to the test tube by blowing into the solution, causing ..."
– TrevorD
12 hours ago
3
None of these participles are gerunds. A gerund is not just any word ending in -ing. A gerund is specifically a present participle that is used as a noun. Both blowing and causing are not being used as nouns here, but purely as verbs. With that out of the way, 1 and 2 are equally fine but seeing how this is a science report, one can be preferable or indeed mandated over the other, depending on what particular style guide you have to adhere to in your specific domain.
– RegDwigнt♦
12 hours ago
Thank you! If both blowing and causing are not being used as nouns here, what is the correct way to mix present and past tense together? I always thought verb tenses should be consistent throughout the whole sentence.
– Eukaryotic_soldier
11 hours ago
add a comment |
Two different issues: First, either "causing ..." or "which caused" is perfectly acceptable; and neither requires a comma. Second,. "When blowing into the solution, CO2 was introduced" implies that these were two separate events which both happened at the same time. I would have written "By blowing into ..."; or "CO2 was introduced to the test tube by blowing into the solution, causing ..."
– TrevorD
12 hours ago
3
None of these participles are gerunds. A gerund is not just any word ending in -ing. A gerund is specifically a present participle that is used as a noun. Both blowing and causing are not being used as nouns here, but purely as verbs. With that out of the way, 1 and 2 are equally fine but seeing how this is a science report, one can be preferable or indeed mandated over the other, depending on what particular style guide you have to adhere to in your specific domain.
– RegDwigнt♦
12 hours ago
Thank you! If both blowing and causing are not being used as nouns here, what is the correct way to mix present and past tense together? I always thought verb tenses should be consistent throughout the whole sentence.
– Eukaryotic_soldier
11 hours ago
Two different issues: First, either "causing ..." or "which caused" is perfectly acceptable; and neither requires a comma. Second,. "When blowing into the solution, CO2 was introduced" implies that these were two separate events which both happened at the same time. I would have written "By blowing into ..."; or "CO2 was introduced to the test tube by blowing into the solution, causing ..."
– TrevorD
12 hours ago
Two different issues: First, either "causing ..." or "which caused" is perfectly acceptable; and neither requires a comma. Second,. "When blowing into the solution, CO2 was introduced" implies that these were two separate events which both happened at the same time. I would have written "By blowing into ..."; or "CO2 was introduced to the test tube by blowing into the solution, causing ..."
– TrevorD
12 hours ago
3
3
None of these participles are gerunds. A gerund is not just any word ending in -ing. A gerund is specifically a present participle that is used as a noun. Both blowing and causing are not being used as nouns here, but purely as verbs. With that out of the way, 1 and 2 are equally fine but seeing how this is a science report, one can be preferable or indeed mandated over the other, depending on what particular style guide you have to adhere to in your specific domain.
– RegDwigнt♦
12 hours ago
None of these participles are gerunds. A gerund is not just any word ending in -ing. A gerund is specifically a present participle that is used as a noun. Both blowing and causing are not being used as nouns here, but purely as verbs. With that out of the way, 1 and 2 are equally fine but seeing how this is a science report, one can be preferable or indeed mandated over the other, depending on what particular style guide you have to adhere to in your specific domain.
– RegDwigнt♦
12 hours ago
Thank you! If both blowing and causing are not being used as nouns here, what is the correct way to mix present and past tense together? I always thought verb tenses should be consistent throughout the whole sentence.
– Eukaryotic_soldier
11 hours ago
Thank you! If both blowing and causing are not being used as nouns here, what is the correct way to mix present and past tense together? I always thought verb tenses should be consistent throughout the whole sentence.
– Eukaryotic_soldier
11 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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You could change blowing (present) into blown (past) to keep those tenses consistent.
CO2, blown (past tense) through the solution, was introduced(past) into the test tube, causing (present --because it always has this effect) the colour to change from yellow to red.
This also corrects the ungrammatical hanging participle 'blowing'.
answered 8 hours ago
HughHugh
7,5111937
add a comment |
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You could change blowing (present) into blown (past) to keep those tenses consistent.
CO2, blown (past tense) through the solution, was introduced(past) into the test tube, causing (present --because it always has this effect) the colour to change from yellow to red.
This also corrects the ungrammatical hanging participle 'blowing'.
answered 8 hours ago
HughHugh
7,5111937
add a comment |
You could change blowing (present) into blown (past) to keep those tenses consistent.
CO2, blown (past tense) through the solution, was introduced(past) into the test tube, causing (present --because it always has this effect) the colour to change from yellow to red.
This also corrects the ungrammatical hanging participle 'blowing'.
answered 8 hours ago
HughHugh
7,5111937
add a comment |
You could change blowing (present) into blown (past) to keep those tenses consistent.
CO2, blown (past tense) through the solution, was introduced(past) into the test tube, causing (present --because it always has this effect) the colour to change from yellow to red.
This also corrects the ungrammatical hanging participle 'blowing'.
answered 8 hours ago
HughHugh
7,5111937
You could change blowing (present) into blown (past) to keep those tenses consistent.
CO2, blown (past tense) through the solution, was introduced(past) into the test tube, causing (present --because it always has this effect) the colour to change from yellow to red.
This also corrects the ungrammatical hanging participle 'blowing'.
answered 8 hours ago
HughHugh
7,5111937
answered 8 hours ago
HughHugh
7,5111937
answered 8 hours ago
HughHugh
7,5111937
answered 8 hours ago
HughHugh
7,5111937
7,5111937
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Two different issues: First, either "causing ..." or "which caused" is perfectly acceptable; and neither requires a comma. Second,. "When blowing into the solution, CO2 was introduced" implies that these were two separate events which both happened at the same time. I would have written "By blowing into ..."; or "CO2 was introduced to the test tube by blowing into the solution, causing ..."
– TrevorD
12 hours ago
3
None of these participles are gerunds. A gerund is not just any word ending in -ing. A gerund is specifically a present participle that is used as a noun. Both blowing and causing are not being used as nouns here, but purely as verbs. With that out of the way, 1 and 2 are equally fine but seeing how this is a science report, one can be preferable or indeed mandated over the other, depending on what particular style guide you have to adhere to in your specific domain.
– RegDwigнt♦
12 hours ago
Thank you! If both blowing and causing are not being used as nouns here, what is the correct way to mix present and past tense together? I always thought verb tenses should be consistent throughout the whole sentence.
– Eukaryotic_soldier
11 hours ago