Were you finished with that? Did you need something? etc, etc.
2006-09-18 09:00:27 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I'm not sure past tense indicates more politeness. The tense you show there implies something was happening at that same time or before the period of time they are inquiring about. It seems incomplete. For example: "Were you finished with that when the phone rang?" or "Did you need something when you came back?"
2006-09-18 09:08:55 · answer #1 · answered by julie j 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have noticed people who change a word to a tense that is not grammatically correct. I am not sure why I am probably guilty of this as well. I am from the south though, we usually cut our sentences down to the bare essentials it is often far to hot to be talking.
2006-09-18 09:07:56 · answer #2 · answered by dreamgirl4myboy 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not where I'm from. We tend to shorten things a bit here.
"You done?"
"Need something?"
2006-09-18 09:02:36 · answer #3 · answered by Mommymonster 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
because it's more polite
2006-09-18 09:02:20 · answer #4 · answered by Brad 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's funny, I've never thought of that...
2006-09-18 09:04:27 · answer #5 · answered by Squirrel 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good Question ????? hmmmmm.
2006-09-18 09:02:03 · answer #6 · answered by Diamond in the Rough 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well that was rather clever of u!!
not sure why that is.
2006-09-18 09:03:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋