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Lucas21c Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Tense

If the answerer is already a teacher, which question is right between 'want' and 'wanted' in the following sentence? Thank you in advance.

Could you tell why you [want/wanted] to be a teacher?
  

Top answer

As written, the sentence is asking the other person whether they could discern the reason why they want(ed) to be a teacher. It seems odd. Are you sure you don't mean one of these?

— GPY

  • As written, the sentence is asking the other person whether they could discern the reason why they want(ed) to be a teacher.
  • It seems odd.
  • Are you sure you don't mean one of these?
  • Could you tell me/us/etc.
  • why you wanted to be a teacher?
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1 Answers
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As written, the sentence is asking the other person whether they could discern the reason why they want(ed) to be a teacher. It seems odd. Are you sure you don't mean one of these?

Could you tell me/us/etc. why you wanted to be a teacher?
Could you explain why you wanted to be a teacher?
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