Question

In the first few moments of the Big Bang, the universe consisted of only quarks and gluons. A. consisted of only B. consists only of C. consisting of only D. according to some physicists, consists of only E. according to some physicists, consisting only of

Short answer

A. consisted of only

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Subject and Verb

The subject of the sentence is 'the universe.' The initial verb 'consisted' indicates that we are speaking about an event in the past.

Check Verb Tense Consistency

Since the event took place in the past ('the first few moments of the Big Bang'), the verb should remain in the past tense. Therefore, 'consists' (present tense) should be eliminated. Options B and D are incorrect.

Analyze the Sentence Structure

'The universe consisted of only quarks and gluons' is already in a complete format and does not require additional context such as 'according to some physicists' which is unnecessary. Options D and E are therefore incorrect.

Identify Correct Form of 'Consist'

Between 'consisted of only' (A) and 'consisting of only' (C), the proper phrase for describing a past continuous event is the former. Thus, option A is the most suitable.

Key concepts

Verb Tense Consistency

Verb tense consistency is crucial when writing sentences. When we describe events happening in the past, we must use past tense verbs throughout the sentence. In the given exercise, the event being described occurred 'in the first few moments of the Big Bang,' which is a past event. Therefore, the verb 'consisted' is correct because it maintains the past tense.

Inconsistent verb tenses can confuse readers and disrupt the flow of your writing. Always ensure that once a timeframe is set (e.g., past, present, future), the verb tenses used thereafter match that timeframe:

• Correct: 'The universe consisted of quarks and gluons.'
• Incorrect: 'The universe consists of quarks and gluons.'

Consistent verb tense helps in maintaining clarity and coherence.

Sentence Structure

A well-structured sentence conveys information clearly and effectively. In English, this typically means having a subject, verb, and object in correct order. In our example, the sentence 'The universe consisted of only quarks and gluons' follows this structure:

• Subject: The universe
• Verb: consisted
• Object: quarks and gluons

This structure ensures that the sentence is easily understandable. Adding unnecessary qualifiers like 'according to some physicists' can make the sentence wordy and confusing. Therefore, choosing a straightforward structure is most effective:

• Correct: 'The universe consisted of only quarks and gluons.'
• Incorrect: 'The universe, according to some physicists, consisted of only quarks and gluons.'

Eliminating Unnecessary Information

Good writing is concise and to the point. Information that doesn't add to the reader's understanding should be omitted. In the exercise, phrases like 'according to some physicists' do not change the main fact that the universe consisted of quarks and gluons during the Big Bang.

Redundancies and unnecessary details can distract from the main point of the sentence. By eliminating such information, we make our writing clearer and more powerful:

• Correct: 'The universe consisted of only quarks and gluons.'
• Incorrect: 'According to some physicists, the universe consisted of only quarks and gluons.'

Staying focused on the essential information helps in delivering a stronger, clearer message.