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Anonymous Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Using past tense as respectful speech

Hello all, I just read an article where the author claims that the past tense is used to be respectful (i.e. an e-mail to your professor - "I wanted to attend your class") Is it really so? I know that starting a request with a Could is less demanding (somewhat more suggestive) than starting with Can but does it really apply to all verbs? The world of English language just gets curiousor and curiousor.
  

Top answer

Anonymous the past tense is used to be respectful I've heard it called "the past of politeness". There aren't a lot of verbs that are used that way, but it does happen. I was wondering if you could help.

— CalifJim

  • Anonymous the past tense is used to be respectful I've heard it called "the past of politeness".
  • There aren't a lot of verbs that are used that way, but it does happen.
  • I was wondering if you could help.
  • CJ
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1 Answers
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Anonymousthe past tense is used to be respectful
I've heard it called "the past of politeness". There aren't a lot of verbs that are used that way, but it does happen.

I was wondering if you could help.

CJ
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