I wonder

Question

Are these correct? What do they mean?

1. I was wondering if you want to go tonight. (How come I can use the present tense verb 'want' here? Or is this incorrect here? I hear people say this all the time though.)
2. I was wondering if you wanted to go tonight.

3. I though you are okay. (If #1 is correct, why isn't #3 correct as well?)

Jack112 · Accepted Answer

Could someone help me out with the post above? Thanks.

Paco2004 · Answer

Hello Jack112

I'm a learner from Japan. Don't you mind if I throw my two cents worth?

As far as I learned in school, (1)"I wonder if X", (2)"I am wondering if X", (3)"I wondered if X" and (4) "I was wondering if X" are often used as special phrases to ask someone something. They are different in the degree of the politeness in asking;(1) is lowest in the politeness and (4) is highest.

The phrases is unusual in that the verb in X can be independent in the tense relation from the main verbal: wonder, am wondering, wondered, was wondering.
I am wondering if you saw him yesterday. -> "Did you see him yesterday?"
I was wondering if you saw him yesterday. -> "Did you see him yesterday?"
I am wondering if you like to play with us. -> "Do you like to play with us?"
I was wondering if you like to play with us. -> "Do you like to play with us?"

But you should remind these phrases are exceptional. For usual complex sentences, you have to keep the rule that; the tense of the main verb governs the tense of the verb in the subordinate clause. So you cannot say "I thought someone is OK" except in the situation you can believe 'someone's being OK' is permanently true.

I hope any moderator would check my mistakes (if any) and give you better answers.

paco

Woodyinkk · Answer

'want' isn't the best word to use here. The statement would be better written in the Present Perfect Continuous tense:
"I have been wondering if you would like to go out tonight." In this form the present tense is being used for a future event - 'tonight' referring to a future time - which is not uncommon. But this may seem a bit too formal, so the words you use are a very informal and common way of speaking to a close friend.

woodyinkk

Woodyinkk · Answer

To paco:
I'm a learner from Japan. I hope you don't mind if I throw in my two cents worth?

I am wondering if you would like to play with us. -> "Do you like to play with us?" -> Missing modal verb
I was wondering if you would like to play with us. -> "Do you like to play with us?"
OR
I am wondering if you would like to play with us. -> "Would you like to play with us?"
OR
I am wondering if you like playing with us. -> "Do you like playing with us?"

But you should remember these phrases are exceptional. > incorrect word used

woodyinkk

CalifJim · Answer

woodyinkk'want' isn't the best word to use here. The statement would be better written in the Present Perfect Continuous tense:"I have been wondering if you would like to go out tonight." In this form the present tense is being used for a future event - 'tonight' referring to a future time - which is not uncommon. But this may seem a bit too formal, so the words you use are a very informal and common way of speaking to a close friend.woodyinkk

FYI.

You are responding to a post that was written more than eight years ago.

You may do that, but no one in the original discussion is likely to chime in.

In the future you may want to note the dates on posts if you wish to engage in a discussion with someone on a particular topic.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

woodyinkkTo paco:I'm a learner from Japan. I hope you don't mind if I throw in my two cents worth? I am wondering if you would like to play with us. -> "Do you like to play with us?" -> Missing modal verb I was wondering if you would like to play with us. -> "Do you like to play with us?" ORI am wondering if you would like to play with us. -> "Would you like to play with us?" ORI am wondering if you like playing with us. -> "Do you like playing with us?" But you should remember these phrases are exceptional. > incorrect word usedwoodyinkk

This is really unfortunate. We have reason to believe that Paco died several years ago. He is not going to benefit from your post, nor respond to it.

As I mentioned earlier, you are replying to posts that are far too old.

CJ

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