GRE SE: Present Participle for Cause-Effect

A part of your GRE preparation is about understanding different sentence structures and setups; one such setup is usage of present participle for displaying cause-effect relationships. On GRE Sentence Equivalence questions, a present participle can signal a cause effect relationship, where the phrase ending in “-ing” explains why something happens or what result it produces. The key is to read that “-ing” phrase as the reason or the outcome and use it to predict the meaning of the blank, and then select a synonymous pair that matches the intended cause effect link. The video below explains a simple and practical way to handle this present participle pattern and then demonstrates this approach on GRE-style Sentence Equivalence questions with answer choices designed to test this concept.

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Understanding the Present Participle for Cause and Effect | GRE SE

The Present Participle is a very useful tool in English grammar, especially when you want to show how one action leads to another. Here is a simple guide to understanding what it is and how it works.

Use of present participle for cause-effect relationship on GRE SE

How to Use Present Participle for Cause and Effect

When you introduce a present participle after a comma, it generally creates a cause-effect relationship. This means the first part of the sentence causes the second part to happen.

Let’s look at two ways to structure these sentences:

1. The Effect follows the Cause

In this structure, the main action happens first, and the “-ing” word shows the result.

Example: Scientists discovered a vaccine, putting an end to the epidemic.

The Cause:Scientists discovered a vaccine.
The Connector:A comma (,) is used to link the ideas.
The Effect:“Putting an end to the epidemic” is the direct result of the discovery.

2. The Cause starts the Sentence

You can also start a sentence with the “-ing” word to show the action that leads to a result later in the sentence.

Example: Discovering a vaccine, scientists put an end to the epidemic.

The Cause:“Discovering a vaccine” is the action that starts everything.
The Connector:A comma (,) separates the cause from the effect.
The Effect:Scientists “put an end to the epidemic” because they found the vaccine.

GRE-style SE Question: Present Participle for Cause-Effect

A GRE SE-like example

Correct answers: range, array

For a detailed explanation of this question, please refer the last ~2 minutes of the video featured earlier on this page. Following is a step-by-step written solution:

Solution

Certain birds are capable of mimicking human speech because their syrinxes – vocal organs – can produce an infinite combination of vibrations, allowing them an immense ________ of vocalizations.

drivel
accoutrement
range
deposition
array
denotation

1. Core Meaning

The sentence explains why some birds can mimic human speech. Their vocal organs (syrinxes) can create an “infinite combination of vibrations,” which results in a very large number of different sounds or vocalizations.

2. Broad Expectation

I expect a word meaning a large variety, collection, or wide selection to describe the many possible vocalizations.

3. Eliminate

drivel: Nonsense or silly talk. Does not fit the context of variety. Incorrect.
accoutrement: Additional items of dress or equipment. Irrelevant to vocal sounds. Incorrect.
range: The area of variation between upper and lower limits. Fits the idea of a wide selection. Keep.
deposition: The action of deposing someone or a formal statement. Irrelevant. Incorrect.
array: An impressive display or range of a particular type of thing. Fits the idea of a large variety. Keep.
denotation: The literal meaning of a word. Does not fit the context of vocal combinations. Incorrect.

4. Cross-check

Range and array are synonyms in this context. Both words successfully convey that birds have a vast selection of sounds available to them because of their specialized vocal organs.

Correct answers: range, array