Subjunctive mood (P122, p
P 143 动词过去完毕体 P181-190, 395)条件句14
“I wondered if I could have a word with you
” The past tense in the sentence refers to a __B___
(p128) A
past event for exact time reference B
present event for tentativenessC
present event for uncertainty D
past event for politenessV
in specific contexts, the simple past can also denote the present or the future time
There are two uses
One is known as the attitudinal past (属于“表态性过去时” (attitudinal past), 即体现说话人目前旳试探性态度 , 而非过去时间 , 多用于体现意愿或心理状态旳动词) , that is , the past tense is associated with the present time in independent clauses expressing a question, request or suggestion
Its effect is to make the question/request/suggestion less direct, implying a polite, somewhat tentative attitude 试探性态度,婉转语气 on the part of th