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Why is "wanted" used instead of"want"?

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tanguatlay
 
Reply Sun 22 Mar, 2020 10:56 am
With the escalating severity of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak globally, I wanted to reach out to assure you that we remain totally committed to serving your banking needs, as well as to share updates on our response.

1. Why is "wanted" used instead of"want" when the bank's officer is addressing their clients?
2. Should it be "outbreaks" instead?

Thanks.
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Type: Question • Score: 2 • Views: 316 • Replies: 5

 
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InfraBlue
 
  3  
Reply Sun 22 Mar, 2020 09:10 pm
@tanguatlay,
1. "Wanted" is more precise. "Want" would be logically ambiguous, since it may be taken as desiring to assure, but not yet doing so. "I am reaching out," would be more forthright and direct.

2. "Outbreak" speaks to the global nature of the pandemic in the sentence, not the regional occurrences of the disease.
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tanguatlay
 
  1  
Reply Wed 1 Apr, 2020 02:32 pm
Today, I wanted to walk you through a few of the features in our confusing English words course that can help you with your writing.

In this case, why is "wanted" used instead of "want"?

Thanks.
maxdancona
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  2  
Reply Wed 1 Apr, 2020 02:45 pm
@tanguatlay,
It is a simple past tense.

Today I ate a banana.
Today I stayed at home.
Today I watched TV.


tanguatlay
 
  1  
Reply Wed 1 Apr, 2020 04:59 pm
@maxdancona,
maxdancona wrote:

It is a simple past tense.

Today I ate a banana.
Today I stayed at home.
Today I watched TV.

The person is talking about confusing words, not something the did in the past.
maxdancona
 
  1  
Reply Wed 1 Apr, 2020 05:12 pm
@tanguatlay,
The main verb of the sentence is "to want".

What did the person want?

I wanted to walk you through confusing words.

"I" is the subject.
"wanted" is the verb
"to walk you...." is an infinitive phrase.

This sentence is talking about something that he wanted to do in the past.

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