收到一封邮件，有这样一句话：I was wondering how to evaluate the method proposed.

最开始不解为什么用was而不用am，网上google了一把，发现：

此句型係用『過去式』表示『客氣』、『委婉』的請求~~~

 Longman Dictionary中有例句：

I was wondering if/whether
a) [spoken] used to politely ask someone to help you:
I was wondering if I could borrow your car?
b) used to ask someone politely if they would like to do something:
I was wondering if you'd like to come to dinner.

网友“辑个”说：The difference between using "wonder"and "wondering" when asking a question is not a simple one. In general,it is better to use "was wondering".The idea with that the speaker is indirectly asking a question.If the speaker uses"was wondering"this implies that they had been wondering,and are now asking a question.If the speaker uses"wonder"this means that they are stil in the act of wondering.The result is that Americans tend to use "wonder"when they are speaking what is on their mind at that moment .I t is not really a question which needs to be answered."wondering",on the other hand,means that the speaker has been thinking about something before he spoke and is now speaking in the hope that he will get an answer.

另外还发现例句很impressive:

Larry: Please pay attention, Tina. I'm not asking the question. I know your lease is up soon and I was wondering if you wanted to move in with me?

网友home away from home给出的解释是：I was wondering... 在例句中是以 "疑問" 的方式來表達 (這是一個典型的以過去式來表達疑問的方式), 有其含意, 因為下文是 "期望" Tina "會想" 搬來同住, 但是又不想給 Tina 或 Larry 自己有 "求婚" 的 "問題 (壓力)".

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