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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Which is correct between I wonder + if you "can" and "could"
What I'm wondering is that
I usually say this grammar " I woder(I'm wondering or I was wondering) "
but I don't know the tense of verb after that sentence.
For example,
1. I wonder if you can give me your number.
2. I wonder if you could give me your number.
3. I'm wondering if you can give me your number.
4. I'm wondering if you could give me your number.
5. I was wondering if you can give me your number.
6. I was wondering if you could give me your number.
Definitely, I know English native speakers would understand whatever I say above one of them.
However, I'd like to speak the most correct expression. Which numbers are correct? Help me ^^
I usually say this grammar " I woder(I'm wondering or I was wondering) "
but I don't know the tense of verb after that sentence.
For example,
1. I wonder if you can give me your number.
2. I wonder if you could give me your number.
3. I'm wondering if you can give me your number.
4. I'm wondering if you could give me your number.
5. I was wondering if you can give me your number.
6. I was wondering if you could give me your number.
Definitely, I know English native speakers would understand whatever I say above one of them.
However, I'd like to speak the most correct expression. Which numbers are correct? Help me ^^
Top answer
Hi I am not a native speaker yet I would like to share what I have learnt. Though both can and could are used to make request, could makes it polite Thus all these are ok: 1. I am wondering if you could give me your (telephone) number.
- Hi I am not a native speaker yet I would like to share what I have learnt.
- Though both can and could are used to make request, could makes it polite Thus all these are ok: 1.
- I am wondering if you could give me your (telephone) number.
- Can is also ok here.
- 2.
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5 Answers
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Hi
I am not a native speaker yet I would like to share what I have learnt.
Though both can and could are used to make request, could makes it polite
Thus all these are ok:
1. I am wondering if you could give me your (telephone) number. Can is also ok here.
2. I was wondering if you could give me your telephone number. Can is not correct.
I am not a native speaker yet I would like to share what I have learnt.
Though both can and could are used to make request, could makes it polite
Thus all these are ok:
1. I am wondering if you could give me your (telephone) number. Can is also ok here.
2. I was wondering if you could give me your telephone number. Can is not correct.
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The best choice would be - I wonder if you could give me your number.
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anonymous6. I was wondering if you could give me your number.
As you stated, a native speaker would understand any of the sentences . I, however, would say it like #6. My reason is that I started to wonder in the past.
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wonder if, whether… used as a polite way of asking a question or asking somebody to do something
- I wonder if you can help me.
- I was wondering whether you'd like to come to a party.
- We were wondering if/whether you'd like to have dinner with us some time?
- I wonder whether you could pass me the butter?
- I wonder if you could give me some
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