Thread: Polite forms exist in english grammar
View Single Post
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 01-Aug-2003, 22:36
Tdol Tdol is offline
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
  
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: UK
Posts: 25,231
Current Location: Phnom Penh
First Language: English
Thanks: 2
Thanked 308 Times in 280 Posts
Tdol has disabled reputation
Default
Because we don't have polite forms for pronouns, we often show politeness through our choice of tense. The past tense is used for this.
Reply With Quote