3

Can I change the first sentence to the following sentence?

1) The cells were treated with enzyme A. -> The enzyme A was treated to the cells.

2) The protein was adsorbed to the nanoparticle. -> The nanoparticle was adsorbed with the protein.

Improve this question
1
  • 1
    @Tory see my comment below re "adsorbed" and "absorbed"
    – D. Nelson
    Commented Dec 7, 2016 at 19:06

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
9

The original sentences are correct, you should use those.

"treat to" means to give something as a gift or pay for something on someone else's behalf, e.g. "I'll treat you to dinner tonight". So "The enzyme A was treated to the cells" makes it sound like someone bought enzyme A some cells as a present.

"adsorb" means "to cause a substance, usually a gas, to form a very thin layer on the surface of another substance". So on, to or onto are the prepositions you could use. "adsorbed with" doesn't make any sense.

Improve this answer
7
  • 2
    Per this NGram, the most common preposition after adsorbed is actually on. But to sounds fine to me anyway (and I quite agree that with doesn't cut the mustard here).
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented Dec 7, 2016 at 14:38
  • 1
    Good spot, I'll edit my answer to include "on"
    – D. Nelson
    Commented Dec 7, 2016 at 14:41
  • @FumbleFingers I'll raise your NGram with another NGram, "absorbed by" and "absorbed into" for a passive voice.
    – Tory
    Commented Dec 7, 2016 at 18:40
  • 1
    @Tory: Good point. But I'll see your "passive" and raise you an explicitly active voice chart by searching for which adsorbed xxx - if I'm not mistaken, that should screen out all passive usages (which unsurprisingly tend to favour by).
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented Dec 7, 2016 at 18:48
  • 1
    @Tory I think you've got "absorbed" and "adsorbed" confused :)
    – D. Nelson
    Commented Dec 7, 2016 at 19:05

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .