I wondered: Using the past simple to be polite

We often use a past tense to be polite when really we're talking about the present. This is very

common with 'I wondered if' and 'I wanted to'.

• I wondered if you had any more cake. (= do you have any more cake?)

• I wanted to buy some fruit. Do you have any apples? (= I want to buy some fruit.)

You might think this is unnecessary! But you really will get better results when you use this kind of

structure to ask native English speakers for things. We love being indirect and we use this even with

close friends and family. The size of the favour is more important than the closeness of the

relationship - we are very polite when we ask for big favours, even with people we know very well.

After 'I wondered if', we use backshifting, like we do with reported speech. We also use normal

subject + verb word order.

• Have you cleaned the bathroom? = I wondered if you had cleaned the bathroom.

• Can I borrow some money? = I wondered if I could borrow some money.

Let's review! Make the sentences more polite by using 'I wondered if'.

1. Can you pick me up?

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2. Will you be at home later?

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3. Is there any more coffee?

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4. Do you have a table for this evening?

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5. Have you written the report?

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6. Can I take the car later?

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7. Do you have any rooms for tonight?

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8. Is James there?

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9. Can you buy some bread?

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10. Does Lucy have time to help me?

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Answers

1. I wondered if you could pick me up.

2. I wondered if you would be at home later.

3. I wondered if there was any more coffee.

4. I wondered if you had a table for this evening.

5. I wondered if you had written the report.

6. I wondered if I could take the car later.

7. I wondered if you had any rooms for tonight.

8. I wondered if James was there.

9. I wondered if you could buy some bread.

10. I wondered if Lucy had time to help me.