Cement production comprises 5 stages, started from mixing materials and ended with packaging.

This writer has attempted to combine three sentences in one:

1. Cement production comprises 5 stages.
2. Cement production starts with mixing materials.
3. Cement production ends with packaging.

How it should be done and why

• Cement production comprises 5 stages, starting with mixing materials and ending with packaging.

Notice the following features:

• Same subject is implied before each ‘_ing’ (cement production).
• The subject is the name of a sequence of events.
• Active voice
• Preposition with

Active/passive?

Try to imagine the long sentence as a series of shorter sentences, each with the same subject. If the verbs in the short sentences are active then they will acquire the ‘_ing’ form when the sentences are joined together. Compare the following:

1. Cement production comprises 5 stages.
2. Cement production starts with mixing materials.
3. Cement production ends with packaging.

• Cement production comprises 5 stages, starting with mixing materials and ending with packaging.

If you change the subject as a way to connect stages, passive voice may be necessary:

1. Cement production comprises 5 stages.
2. Cement production starts with mixing materials.
3. Mixing materials is followed by adding water.
4. Cement production ends with packaging.

• Cement production comprises 5 stages, starting with mixing materials, followed by adding water and ending with packaging.

Why ‘with’?

• start + at + time
• start + from + place
• start + with + not a time or place

Conclusion

Using participle clauses – clauses that begin with ‘_ing’ or ‘_ed’ – in IELTS writing enables you to:

• avoid repetition
• combine shorter sentences
• summarise/paraphrase
• achieve structural sophistication

All of this will of course help to increase your score in IELTS writing Task 1 and Task 2!

Practice

Here’s a challenge. Try to make a single sentence out of these shorter sentences!

• Study abroad involves a lot of preparation.
• Study abroad begins with a scholarship application.
• Study abroad involves interviews.
• Study abroad may require you to improve your English.
• Study abroad involves a lot of hard study.
• Study abroad gets you the qualification you need!

Answers in the comments box below!