I wondered if you could help us? 主句和从句中的动词均使用过去时, 这是指过去时间吗?
这里不是指过去时间，而是指现在时间。这种用法叫做礼貌过去时，因主句用了礼貌过去时，后面从句中的动词为了遵循时态呼应原则也跟着前移为过去时了。虽然这种用法的一般过去时都可以用一般现在时来代替，但是，代替后讲话者探询的口气和礼貌的态度，便荡然无存了。请比较：
Do you want to buy this one?
Did you want to buy this one?
下面是一些类似的例子：
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We were hoping you would stay with us. 我们诚盼您能和我们呆在一起。
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Could I borrow your car? 我能借用一下您的汽车吗？
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I wondered if you were free this evening. 不知您今天晚上是不是有空。
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We were wondering whether we might beg a lift in your car? 我们不知道我们是否能请求您让我们搭您的车？
请做下面的英语试题：
—Excuse me, sir. Would you do me a favor? —Of course. What is it?
—I ____ if you could tell me how to fill out this form.
A. had wondered B. was wondering C. would wonder D. did wonder(北京高考,02-23) wonder
I wonder 是陈述句,为什么它引出宾语从句时句末用问号?
在一般情况下，wonder引出宾语从句提出间接疑问时，是不用问号的。如：
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I wonder what they call these flowers. (Wells) 我不知道他们怎样称呼这些花。
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They'll be wondering where I am. (Dreiser) 他们将不知道我在哪里。但是, 当 I wonder... 结构用来代替有礼貌的询句或委婉的请求时, 则句末可以使用问号(参见 suppose ):
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I wonder how you came to miss your way? (Du Maurier) 我不知道你是怎样迷路的。
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I wonder whether you could lend me 50 pence? (Wood) 我不知道你能否借给我50便士。
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I wonder what her motive was in breaking the windows? (RWRT) 我不知道她打碎窗户的动机是什么。