Could someone please explain my grammar mistake?

[AmberLiz]

I think my grammar mistake is a tense-related issue, but would someone mind explaining it to me? The context surrounding this sentence is all in the past tense.

"I feel it would have been more powerful separating them into two separate books and have the reader go on two unique journeys."

[MsH2k]

I think my grammar mistake is a tense-related issue, but would someone mind explaining it to me? The context surrounding this sentence is all in the past tense.

"I feel it would have been more powerful separating them into two separate books and have the reader go on two unique journeys."

I can’t tell if there is an issue with tense in this case. Although it’s recommended to have the same tense throughout a paragraph when possible, your feelings are still valid now, so they don’t necessarily need to be in past tense.

Looking at this sentence alone, my only suggestion would be to change the last “have” to “having.”  This would result in two participial phrases that would be parallel. Another option to maintain parallelism would be to change “separating” to “to separate.” This would give you two infinitive phrases. 

This link has examples of infinitives and participles: https://www.mometrix.com/academy/gerund ... articiple/

I hope this helps!

[sayoniwrites]

I think my grammar mistake is a tense-related issue, but would someone mind explaining it to me? The context surrounding this sentence is all in the past tense.

"I feel it would have been more powerful separating them into two separate books and have the reader go on two unique journeys."

Maybe the issue is with using the wrong verb form.
"I feel it would have been more powerful separating them into two separate books and have the reader go on two unique journeys."
"I feel it would have been more powerful to separate them into two separate books and have the reader go on two unique journeys."

[Helen Akoth]

I think my grammar mistake is a tense-related issue, but would someone mind explaining it to me? The context surrounding this sentence is all in the past tense.

"I feel it would have been more powerful separating them into two separate books and have the reader go on two unique journeys."

I can’t tell if there is an issue with tense in this case. Although it’s recommended to have the same tense throughout a paragraph when possible, your feelings are still valid now, so they don’t necessarily need to be in past tense.

Looking at this sentence alone, my only suggestion would be to change the last “have” to “having.”  This would result in two participial phrases that would be parallel. Another option to maintain parallelism would be to change “separating” to “to separate.” This would give you two infinitive phrases. 


I hope this helps!

I agree with your observation that AmberLiz’s feelings are valid. I, too, wouldn't consider the inconsistency of tenses in the sentence an error. The sentence makes perfect sense, and I also construct such kinds of sentenses often. Your suggestion on how the sentence can be improved is thoughtful too. I must say you have an eagle’s eye. Thanks. I have also learnt something.

[Samuel Mamo]

I think, you should use the present tense form of "separate" by adding "to" as; "to separate" , instead of "separating".

[Favour Uwa]

i think there's one things i observed in this sentence : the phrase should have been a clause and should have been linked to the main clause with a subordinating conjuction, 'if'
So, the sentence should have read: 'I feel it would have been more powerful, if they were separated into two different book'