Want and wanted

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Phil: Hey Fred, how was the wedding?Fred: Well, I just wanted to thank you for making Debbie go through with it and everything.I was confused by this word for a while until i find right answers on this website ,but i still hope someone can teach me about this .

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

??but I still hope someone can teach me about this .

Teaching about "i".

"i" is the ninth letter of the alphabet. It does not refer to a person.

??Fred: ... for making Debbie go through with it

Phil forced Debbie to marry.

Sometimes girls are forced to marry someone they do not like, or someone they don't want to spend the rest of their lives with. This happens in some contemporary societies where women are not treated well.
It used to happen in the US. If a girl got pregnant, her parents would force her to marry the father of the child.

Here is an article about forced and arranged marriages. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_marriage

??Fred: Well, I just wanted to thank you

Fred: Well, I just wanted to thank you...
Fred: Well, I just want to thank you

In sentence #1, Fred has been thinking or planning to thank Phil for some time. So he uses the past tense. It is more considerate and respectful, because he lets Phil know that it is a deliberate and planned action.
In sentence #2, Fred sees Phil and right then, he decides to thank him for something.

This distinction is often ignored among native speakers. A "thank you" is always polite and welcomed.

CalifJim · Answer

??I just wanted to thank you

I call this the past of politeness.

CJ

萨冲 · Answer

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