1. Verb Tense in Lab Reports

2. Verb Tense in Lab Reports
How verb tense work
Primary verb tenses
Avoiding common mistakes

3. Do Not Write Reports Like a Story
Abstract and introduction are not written with the future tense (will test)
Procedure (test!)
Data/observation is not the present (is tested)
Conclusion is not past tense (was tested)

4. Lab Reports Require Different Tastes
The format is a logical argument, not a chronological retelling
Laboratory work is finished
Writer is now an expert, supporting hypothesis
Most parts of the report refer to procedures, data, and observation in the past tense

5. Verb Tense in Lab Reports
How verb tense work
Primary verb tenses
Avoiding common mistakes

6. Report All Action in Past Tense
A microphone was constructed by the team
The gear ratio was too large for the robot’s purpose
Common household objects were used to construct a microphone

7. General Condition Present
Things that are always true take the present tense:
Precision is the repeatability of the result.
Present also for all printed material:
The authors report their results in the latest edition of the New England Journal of Medicine

8. Use Conditional for Hypotheses
Appropriate for conclusions:
Inverting the cup would have reduced heat loss.
Better wheels would improve the robot’s speed.
Breadboards should be used.

9. Use Subjunctive for Contrary to Fact
If the car was lighter, it would have traveled farther.
If the car were lighter, it would have traveled farther.

10. Verb Tense in Lab Reports
How verb tense work
Primary verb tenses
Avoiding common mistakes

11. Passive Voice is a Mood, Not a Tense
The robot is found to be accurate, but not precise.
The robot was found to be accurate, but not precise.
The robot should be found to be accurate, but not precise.

12. Future is Rare in Lab Reports
Future tense (“will construct”) implies certainty
No certainty in science until ideas are tested
Use conditional tense for things that might happen (even future work)

13. Use Verbs Consistently
Introduction
Present
Procedure
Past
Data/Observation
Conclusion
Conditional/Subjunctive

14. Verb Tense in Lab Reports
QUESTIONS?