DANAU
Member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2020
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Chinese
- Home Country
- Singapore
- Current Location
- Singapore
Hi. I extracted this first paragraph from a local newspaper article.
The mixed usage of simple past tense and simple present tense really confuses me. Both the words
‘was’ and ‘reflects’ are referring to the outcome of the election, which impacts still remain. Therefore,
should not both words be using simple present tense or they both should be simple past tense if it is for the purpose of back shifting.
“The outcome of the recent general election was good for Singapore, and reflects a desire among Singaporeans for a new balance in politics, said Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Sunday (July 19).”
The mixed usage of simple past tense and simple present tense really confuses me. Both the words
‘was’ and ‘reflects’ are referring to the outcome of the election, which impacts still remain. Therefore,
should not both words be using simple present tense or they both should be simple past tense if it is for the purpose of back shifting.
“The outcome of the recent general election was good for Singapore, and reflects a desire among Singaporeans for a new balance in politics, said Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Sunday (July 19).”