'Ask' - Which Tense at the end of a message

Question

Hi,Suppose I were writing a post in this forum as follows:Is 'would' more polite than 'will'?Does adding 'please' make your sentence polite?A. I ask because I want to learn polite English.B. I'm asking because I want to learn polite English.C. I've asked because I want to learn polite English.D. I asked because I want to learn polite English.Questions:1.  How are the sentences above different in meaning?2.  If you as a native speaker were me, which tense would you normally used above or at the end of the message?Please advise.  Thanks.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi again,

Suppose I were writing a post in this forum as follows:

Is 'would' more polite than 'will'?

Does adding 'please' make your sentence polite?

A. I ask because I want to learn polite English. Commonly said. Sounds fairly formal.

B. I'm asking because I want to learn polite English. Commonly said. A bit more informal.

In this context, no real difference in meaning between A and B.

C. I've asked because I want to learn polite English. Emphasises a bit that your asking was in the past. Less commonly said.

D. I asked because I want to learn polite English. Places your question in the past, and makes it sem like your question is not very important in the present. This is not really your meaning, and so this tense is less likely to be used.

Questions:

1. How are the sentences above different in meaning?

2. If you as a native speaker were me, which tense would you normally used above or at the end of the message?

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Hi again, Clive,

I now understand the differences. Thanks to you for your explanations.
I would then use either A or B in this context. Great help.

'Ask' - Which Tense at the end of a message

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