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Lcchang Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

I was hoping

I am looking for a few places to visit today, and I was hoping you could help me find them.

I would like to ask why I was hoping is used here instead of I am hoping. Please advise.

LCChang
  

Top answer

Lcchang I am looking for a few places to visit today, and I was hoping you could help me find them. I would like to ask why I was hoping is used here instead of I am hoping . Please advise.

— Gencebay90

  • Lcchang I am looking for a few places to visit today, and I was hoping you could help me find them.
  • I would like to ask why I was hoping is used here instead of I am hoping .
  • Please advise.
  • LCChang I was hoping/wondering is a formal expression and though the tense here is 'past progressive', it refers to the present
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15 Answers
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LcchangI am looking for a few places to visit today, and I was hoping you could help me find them.

I would like to ask why I was hoping is used here instead of I am hoping. Please advise.

LCChang

I was ho
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Gencebay90
Lcchang
I am looking for a few places to visit today, and I was hoping you could help me find them.

I would like to ask why I was hoping is used here instead of I am hoping. Please advise.
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Hi,

i think it's more polite when u r asking someone...Emotion: hmm
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It's considered more polite if the past present tense is used in requests, for example,

1. I was thinking we should do something together this weekend.

2. I was wondering if you are free tonight. .
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Lcchang
Gencebay90
Lcchang
I am looking for a few places to visit today, and I was hoping you could help me find them.

I would like to ask why I was hoping is used here instead of I am hoping
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I see. Thank you all.

LCChang
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The use of the past tense adds "distance" and that makes expressions such as "I was hoping" sound a bit more tentative and polite.
I would not say that it is necessarily only "formal" since I think this sort of usage of past tense forms occurs even in very informal conversation.
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Hi,
those structures are used when you don't want to sound like you're insisting or demanding. So you'll sound more polite.

Good morning. I needed some books about psycology...
Good morning, I was looking for a new pair of boots, could you please...
I was wondering if you had some interesting books I could borrow...
Hello teachers, I wan
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Hi,

A: Can I help you?

B: Yes, I was looking for a red dress.

My theory is that the politeness of the past tense comes from the fact that it puts my 'need' into the past and removes it from the present. In other words, what I am saying is 'I wanted a red dress in the past but I probably don't want it now, so if you have to tell me that you don't have one, then don't be e
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Hi Clive,
CliveMy theory is that the politeness of the past tense comes from the fact that it puts my 'need' into the past and removes it from the present. In other words, what I am saying is 'I wanted a red dress in the past but I probably don't want it now, so if you have to tell me that you don't have one, then don't be embarrassed because that's not causing me any unhap
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