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Dhmkhkk Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Sequence of tenses

Hi there,

I have a question regarding sequence of tenses in the English grammar, namely in the following sentence:

"In 2017, researchers published their specifications for a new e-voting system, which has the potential of being accepted as a nationwide e-voting platform." Is "has the potential" correct? It cries for "had", but people on english.stackexchange.com say that "has" works perfectly fine. I would like to hear an opinion from someone who really knows how English grammar works (maybe someone who studied English as a major or something).

Thanks in advance!

  

Top answer

The sentence is fine as it is. The use of had would indicate that the new e-voting system no longer has the potential of being accepted as a nationwide e-voting platform. The sequence of tenses doesn't necessarily apply in relative clauses.

— Cool Breeze

  • The sentence is fine as it is.
  • The use of had would indicate that the new e-voting system no longer has the potential of being accepted as a nationwide e-voting platform.
  • The sequence of tenses doesn't necessarily apply in relative clauses.
  • If it did, English would be even more ambiguous and inexact than it is.
  • Consider this example with past tense in the main clause and present tense in the relative clause: Yesterday I met somebody who is much older than I am.
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3 Answers
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The sentence is fine as it is. The use of had would indicate that the new e-voting system no longer has the potential of being accepted as a nationwide e-voting platform. The sequence of tenses doesn't necessarily apply in relative clauses. If it did, English would be even more ambiguous and inexact than it is. Consider this example with past tense in

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dhmkhkkIn 2017, researchers published their specifications for a new e-voting system which [has / will have] the potential of being accepted as a nationwide e-voting platform.

'has' seems OK to me, and if I were going to change it, I'd use "will have" before I'd use "had". I suppose it

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Thanks very much guys, and sorry for the belated reply. You saved me.

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