I was calling...

Question

Hi,The following are commonly used expressions in phone conversations. I don’t why people talk in the past / past continuous tense when the action they are talking about is happening at that moment.1. I was calling to check in with you about the resume I sent last week.2. I just wanted to say thank you, everybody, for joining us today.Thanks,MG.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

They are not past, they are second conditional:

I was calling [if you would accept my imposition]...
I just wanted to say [if you would be willing to listen]...

Musicgold · Answer

Thanks. You are the best, MM.

CalifJim · Answer

I was always told to consider this 'the past of politeness'.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

Mister MicawberThey are not past, they are second conditional:

I was calling [if you would accept my imposition]...
I just wanted to say [if you would be willing to listen]...

I thought the second conditional had would in the main clause and the past in the if-clause -- not the reverse.

CJ

Mister Micawber · Answer

Hmm.  OK, let's go with 'the past of politeness'-- that's easy.

Musicgold · Answer

CalifJimI was always told to consider this 'the past of politeness'.

I don't get what you mean by 'the past of politeness' here.

CalifJim · Answer

MusicgoldI don't get what you mean by 'the past of politeness' here.

In many situations the use of the past (instead of the present) shows that you are being polite, indirect. It's a form of circumlocution.

The use of the present is like looking directly into someone's eyes. The use of the past is like modestly averting your eyes.

The verb want is probably the most frequently seen in this 'politeness' pattern.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks CJ. That is an interesting aspect I was not aware of.

MG.

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