Learn Spanish (Spain): Habiendo tomado la muestra, es lógico que verifiquemos los datos. - Having taken the sample, it is logical that we verify the data.

Habiendo tomado la muestra, es lógico que verifiquemos los datos.

Having taken the sample, it is logical that we verify the data.

Breakdown of Habiendo tomado la muestra, es lógico que verifiquemos los datos.

ser

to be

que

that (relative pronoun, conjunction)

haber

to have (auxiliary)

tomar

to take (a measurement, e.g. temperature)

Questions & Answers about Habiendo tomado la muestra, es lógico que verifiquemos los datos.

Why do we use the compound gerund habiendo tomado instead of the simple gerund tomando here?

The compound gerund habiendo tomado (having taken) makes it clear that the action of taking the sample was completely finished before the verification started. If you used the simple gerund tomando (taking), it would incorrectly suggest you are verifying the data at the exact same time you are taking the sample.

Why is verifiquemos in the subjunctive mood?

The phrase es lógico que (it is logical that) is an impersonal expression that introduces a subjective judgment. In Spanish, this triggers the subjunctive mood for the following verb, which is why we use verifiquemos instead of the indicative verificamos.

The sentence starts with habiendo tomado, but who actually took the sample?

We did. While gerunds like habiendo tomado do not conjugate to show who is doing the action, they almost always share a subject with the main verb of the sentence. Since the main verb is verifiquemos (we verify), it is understood that we are also the ones who took the sample.

Is it common to use the compound gerund in everyday speech like this, or is there a simpler alternative?

While habiendo tomado is perfectly correct, the compound gerund can sound a bit formal or written. In everyday spoken Spanish, you will frequently hear people use después de tomar (after taking) or después de haber tomado (after having taken) to express the exact same idea.