[Grammar] Tenses ...was good...and reflects

[DANAU]

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).”

 

[tedmc]

I think the first part should also be in the simple present tense (outcome is good for Singapore) since it should still hold true now, as is the desire of Singaporeans for a new balance in politics. If it was something like "outcome was announced" which is a thing of the past, then the simple past tense would have been appropriate.

 

[emsr2d2]

The outcome of a general election happens just once, at one specific point in time, so the simple past was used correctly.

 

[DANAU]

Hi emsr2d2.

The second verb “reflect” is also referring to
the outcome of the election. Given that, should
it be “reflected” instead of “reflects”?

 

[GoesStation]

The second verb “reflect” is also referring to
the outcome of the election. Given that, should
it be “reflected” instead of “reflects”?

The past tense would make the statement apply to the past. The present simple tells us the desire is occurring in the present.

 

[tedmc]

An election is an event but the outcome of an election is not. It is the results. Results don't "happen". The perception of the results, whether good or not, should hold true until today since the Singapore election happened only last week.. That's why I said the simple past tense is appropriate. The perception of the results could not have been good last week and changed this week. What is true of "reflects" should also be true of "being good for Singapore".