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Latest post Thu, Jul 9 2009 11:41 PM by Clive. 3 replies.
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Anonymous  +  813170 Thu, 09 Jul 09 07:58 PM
I included the following sentence in a document draft: "I built a new query to pull a list of existing customers to use as a prospecting list for cross selling collaboration solutions." A reviewer of the document responded saying I was "mixing tenses within the sentence". I went to the internet and entered the sentence into a grammar checker, which identified no errors.


Based on a response to a previous grammar question, I believe I have two infinitive phrases (starting with "to"). Can somone clarify the situation with the final phrase (starting with "for"). I think it is a prepositional phrase. I have been attempting to research verbs on the interent and I think I have the -ING participle verb form. Am I correct or totally off base?


Thank you very much. Take care and have a great day!


Art

Best answer by Clive  +  813190 Thu, 09 Jul 09 08:13 PM
Hi,

I included the following sentence in a document draft: "I built a new query to pull a list of existing customers to use as a prospecting list for cross selling collaboration solutions." A reviewer of the document responded saying I was "mixing tenses within the sentence". I went to the internet and entered the sentence into a grammar checker, which identified no errors. I don't see any tense errors.


Based on a response to a previous grammar question, I believe I have two infinitive phrases (starting with "to"). Yes.

Can somone clarify the situation with the final phrase (starting with "for"). I think it is a prepositional phrase. Yes.

I have been attempting to research verbs on the interent and I think I have the -ING participle verb form. Am I correct or totally off base? 'Cross-selling' is a gerund, and it is used correctly. You could just as easily say 'for cross-sales of  collaborative solutions'.

 

Although there are no grammar errors, here's my advice. Avoid sentences like this that string several of these long phrases together. It gets to be hard work for the reader to understand your meaning, and it makes what you are saying sound 'weaker'.

Compare this.

 "I built a new query to pull a list of existing customers . We can prospect with this, in order to cross-sell collaboration solutions."

 

Best wishes, Clive

 

All the other replies..
Anonymous, 120 days ago
Thank you very much, Clive. I'll definitely take your advice on simplifying my sentences and making them easier to understand.


Could you clarify the tense situation in your suggested revision?


I built a new query to pull a list of existing customers . We can prospect with this, in order to cross-sell collaboration solutions.


It appears there is a tense change from past to present (built, can). My understanding is the tense has to remain the same throughout a paragraph. I now think my understanding may be incorrect. My only defense is college (and any acquired grammar skills) is 34 years behind me. Please set me straight on the rule for tenses.


Thanks again.


Art

Clive  +  813303 Thu, 09 Jul 09 11:41 PM
Hi again,

My understanding is the tense has to remain the same throughout a paragraph. I now think my understanding may be incorrect. Yes, definitely not correct. There's no such rule about tenses.

 

eg Obama visited Mexico last month. Today he visits Palestine. Next month he will visit France.

 

Best wishes, Clive

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