wanted/want
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wanted/want
I wanted to speak to you today.
I want to speak to you today.
Do both those express a desire at the moment of speaking, IYO?
I want to speak to you today.
Do both those express a desire at the moment of speaking, IYO?
Depends on context, but the first could refer to a present situation if the speaker is trying to sound polite. In the same way, you might ring someone up and say "I was calling to ask..."
Of course, I wanted to speak to you today could be followed by ... but now I realise it won't be possible. In which case, the desire could still be present, even if it's no longer realisable.
Of course, I wanted to speak to you today could be followed by ... but now I realise it won't be possible. In which case, the desire could still be present, even if it's no longer realisable.
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And how about "I will want to speak to you tomorrow" and "*?I will be wanting to speak to you tomorrow"?fluffyhamster wrote:Random thoughts: while 'I was wanting to speak to you' is fine, 'I'm wanting to speak to you' isn't. (As for present progressive, could it be equally substituted for by past progressive?).
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I was using the alternative terminology for the past simple.
Fluffy raises an interesting point about the progressive aspect and want when he points out how rare it is to see the present continous.
The reason is that the continuous aspect stresses the fact that the 'action' is taking place in a specific period of time with a beginning and end. So no problem with "I've been wanting to talk to you for a long time'. There seems to be a social convention with "I was wanting/hoping/expecting".
In the Present Continuous it is difficult to envisage a situation where the beginning and ending of the desire is so important, since the desire itself takes primacy.
The boss wants you to finish this today.
*The boss is wanting you to finish this today.
If however you are making an observation then the importance of the desire itself no longer takes primacy.
The Democrats are wanting Bush to become a lame-duck President.
Fluffy raises an interesting point about the progressive aspect and want when he points out how rare it is to see the present continous.
The reason is that the continuous aspect stresses the fact that the 'action' is taking place in a specific period of time with a beginning and end. So no problem with "I've been wanting to talk to you for a long time'. There seems to be a social convention with "I was wanting/hoping/expecting".
In the Present Continuous it is difficult to envisage a situation where the beginning and ending of the desire is so important, since the desire itself takes primacy.
The boss wants you to finish this today.
*The boss is wanting you to finish this today.
If however you are making an observation then the importance of the desire itself no longer takes primacy.
The Democrats are wanting Bush to become a lame-duck President.
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Actually I meant to say 'As for present perfect progressive, could it be equally substituted by past perfect progressive?' there. Not that it's very important.fluffyhamster wrote:Random thoughts: while 'I was wanting to speak to you' is fine, 'I'm wanting to speak to you' isn't. (As for present progressive, could it be equally substituted for by past progressive?).
I making a "request" for an audience with someone, the past perfect progessive gives a feeling of anteriority, duration and states the prsent existence of the unfulfilled desire, IMO. When used alone, the past simple/second form does not.fluffyhamster wrote:Actually I meant to say 'As for present perfect progressive, could it be equally substituted by past perfect progressive?' there. Not that it's very important.fluffyhamster wrote:Random thoughts: while 'I was wanting to speak to you' is fine, 'I'm wanting to speak to you' isn't. (As for present progressive, could it be equally substituted for by past progressive?).
I've been wanting to speak to you (for some time now). Now, please sit down.
?*I was wanting to speak to you (for some time now). = My desire no longer exists.
I wanted to speak to you. = My desire still exists.