Question 1

Why isn't there a word for "by" before apilando?

Accepted Answer

In English, we usually say "by stacking" to explain the method we used to do something. In Spanish, the gerund (the -ando or -iendo form) expresses this method all on its own. You don't need to add a preposition like por or con; just using apilando naturally translates to "by stacking."

Question 2

Is Guardamos present tense ("we store") or past tense ("we stored") here?

Accepted Answer

It could be either! For regular -ar verbs like guardar, the nosotros (we) form is exactly the same in the present tense and the preterite (completed past) tense. In a real conversation, you would rely on the surrounding context to know if they are storing the inventory right now, or if they stored it yesterday.

Question 3

Does cartones only mean small "cartons", like for milk?

Accepted Answer

It can, but cartón is also the general Spanish word for "cardboard". In a warehouse or inventory context like this one, los cartones usually refers to standard cardboard boxes. You will also frequently hear the full phrase las cajas de cartón (the cardboard boxes).

Question 4

Could we change the sentence order and put apilando at the beginning?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can absolutely say Apilando los cartones, guardamos el inventario (By stacking the cartons, we store the inventory). Putting the gerund phrase first emphasizes the method being used, but keeping it at the end—as it is in this sentence—is the most standard, everyday way to phrase it.

Guardamos el inventario apilando los cartones.

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