Wanted - past or present

Question

I wanted to tell you that I was leaving tomorrow.
I wanted to tell you that I am leaving tomorrow.

I wanted to tell you that I was writing a book.
I wanted to tell you that I am writing a book.

Can you use the present like "am" after wanted or is it better if I use the past?

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Both are correct. You may always backshift reported thought.

If you wish to emphasize the present time of the project, don't backshift.

If it's a lie (not the truth) then I suppose it's a grey area:
I wanted to tell you that I'm writing a book, but I'm really not.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousCan you use the present like "am" after wanted or is it better if I use the past?

There is at least one reading of each that is correct and natural, but the sentences you present illustrate some subtleties worth discussing.

First of all, you can take wanted literally as an indicator of past time, or you can consider wanted as 'the past of politeness'. In the latter instance, the past is used to be polite, and the reference is actually to present time. Very few verbs ever occur in this 'politeness' form, but want is one of them.

Secondly, you have an interesting mix of examples in that in one set of the them you mention a specific time, namely tomorrow, and in the other one you don't. As you will see below, that makes a difference in how the tenses may be used or not.
___________________

1. Supposing that you take wanted as a true past.

1A. When the definite time tomorrow is mentioned, it doesn't matter if you use am or was. am leaving is still valid because the action doesn't happen until tomorrow. was follows the normal sequence of tenses. That makes was equally valid.

I wanted (then) to tell you that I am (still planning on) leaving tomorrow.

I wanted (then) to tell you that I was (planning on) leaving tomorrow.

In either case, you may add a clause which expresses a reason why you did not do what you wanted to do. (but I forgot, but I didn't get the chance, etc.)

1B. No definite time is mentioned in the book-writing examples.

I wanted (then) to tell you that I am writing a book. (I am still writing a book.)
I wanted (then) to tell you that I was writing a book. (I am still writing a book.)
I wanted (then) to tell you that I was writing a book. (I am not writing a book anymore.)

Note here that was may simply be the result of following the usual sequence of tenses, matching wanted and thereby indicating present time, or it may literally apply to the past, having come unhinged, as it were, from the verb in the main clause. Thus, in this case, only by using am can you be absolutely sure that you're saying that you are still writing the book -- if that is truly what you want to say.
___________________________

2. Supposing that you take wanted as a past of politeness. The wanting is now, not in the past.

2A. The definite time tomorrow is mentioned. Since the wanting is not really in the past, was is not appropriate. Hence, you have the following.

Possible: I wanted (=want) to tell you, and I hereby do tell you, that I am leaving tomorrow.

Impossible: I wanted (=want) to tell you, and I hereby do tell you, that I was leaving tomorrow. (was doesn't mix with tomorrow in this case.)

2B. No definite time is mentioned. Here the ambiguity of was is as discussed in 1B, above.

I wanted (=want) to tell you, and I hereby do tell you, that I am writing a book. (I am now writing a book.)
I wanted (=want) to tell you, and I hereby do tell you, that I was writing a book. (I am still writing a book.)
I wanted (=want) to tell you, and I hereby do tell you, that I was writing a book. (I am not writing a book anymore.)

CJ

Wanted - past or present

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions