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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
I wondered
Hi,
I think it is somewhat customary to begin a letter asking something is still ongoing by saying "I wondered if you were interested in attending our meeting on Friday evening."
Then it got me thinking, "Does the use of past after the phrase "I wondered" mean something is still effective or could it be something that stopped being effective?"
eg,
Hi, John. I am writing this email because I wondered if you bought that shoes you said you wanted to buy during our shopping spree last weekend.
Here, the "bought" could indicate something that hasn't been fulfilled or something that has been fulfilled. Would the distinction be important? On second thoughts, I think it would not matter since the point is that one is looking at the future from the past vantage point. What do you say to that?
I think it is somewhat customary to begin a letter asking something is still ongoing by saying "I wondered if you were interested in attending our meeting on Friday evening."
Then it got me thinking, "Does the use of past after the phrase "I wondered" mean something is still effective or could it be something that stopped being effective?"
eg,
Hi, John. I am writing this email because I wondered if you bought that shoes you said you wanted to buy during our shopping spree last weekend.
Here, the "bought" could indicate something that hasn't been fulfilled or something that has been fulfilled. Would the distinction be important? On second thoughts, I think it would not matter since the point is that one is looking at the future from the past vantage point. What do you say to that?
Top answer
It's quite common to introduce a communication with "I wondered" in the past. Personally, I try to use the present, as it seems to show a greater interest and sense of urgency. " Sometimes people use the past deliberately to give the reader an opportunity to respond in the negative, without feeling obligated.
- It's quite common to introduce a communication with "I wondered" in the past.
- Personally, I try to use the present, as it seems to show a greater interest and sense of urgency.
- " Sometimes people use the past deliberately to give the reader an opportunity to respond in the negative, without feeling obligated.
- " I was thinking/wondering and I'm thinking/wondering are interchangeable for practical purposes, and I think only make a difference in the impression you [wish to] make on your listener/reader.
- The thought occurred to me last week that we haven't played tennis in over a month.
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2 Answers
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It's quite common to introduce a communication with "I wondered" in the past. Personally, I try to use the present, as it seems to show a greater interest and sense of urgency. When the other party reads your inquire, he may think, "Hmm, I wonder if he still wonders."
Sometimes people use the past deliberately to give the reader an opportunity to respond in the negative, without feelin
Sometimes people use the past deliberately to give the reader an opportunity to respond in the negative, without feelin
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Thank you. That was a really good explanation. One that matches in caliber to that of CalifJim or Mr. M. I think the gurus here are all terrfic.
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