Has softened
"Europhile Conservative backbenchers are calling for a clear signal that May has softened her approach to Brexit – and regard the election of two centrists, Nicky Morgan and Tom Tugendhat, to chair the Treasury and foreign affairs select committees as a signal that the makeup of the House of Commons has shifted decisively." (The Guardian.)
Does "have softened" express the future (in real time) in the above?
(May doesn't seem to have softened her approach to the Brexit yet.)
Top answer
First, it has to be "has" (the correct form for he or she). However, reading the passage, I would not put this in the future. They are looking for a sign that May now is taking a more open-to-discussion approach.
- First, it has to be "has" (the correct form for he or she).
- However, reading the passage, I would not put this in the future.
- They are looking for a sign that May now is taking a more open-to-discussion approach.
- Yes, the signal of that change is in the future, but it would reflect a change that had already taken place (in the present).
- If we want to talk about the future, I would say: the backbenchers want May to take a softened approach to Brexit.
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First, it has to be "has" (the correct form for he or she).
However, reading the passage, I would not put this in the future. They are looking for a sign that May now is taking a more open-to-discussion approach. Yes, the signal of that change is in the future, but it would reflect a change that had already taken place (in the present). If we want to talk about the futur
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