[Grammar] The question I meant to ask is/was...

[kadioguy]

Jones: Did you ask this one?
Tom: No, the question I meant to ask is/was that one.

(My original conversation)
---------------
a. No, the question I meant to ask is that one.
b. No, the question I meant to ask was that one.

Which one is correct? Or are both acceptable? Could you tell me your opinion?
I am a little confused about how to use this kind of verb tense.

 

[kadioguy]

If you are, for example, pointing to a question in a list of questions, you can use either 'is' or 'was'. With 'is', you are thinking of the question in the form you are looking at; with 'was', you are thinking of it as you had intended to ask it earlier.

Can I say this? If not, could you tell me your opinion? (I don't know why it is in the past perfect.)

... with 'was', you are thinking of it as you intended to ask it earlier.

 

[kadioguy]

Can I say this? If not, could you tell me your opinion? (I don't know why it is in the past perfect.)

How about this?

But I think this one would also work:

... with 'was', you are thinking of it as you intended to ask it earlier.

What do you think?

 

[kadioguy]

c. ... with 'was', you are thinking of it as you had intended to ask it earlier.
d. ... with 'was', you are thinking of it as you intended to ask it earlier.

Why did Piscean use (c) rather than (d)? Could someone please tell me about the use of this tense?

 

[kadioguy]

c. ... with 'was', you are thinking of it as you had intended to ask it earlier.
d. ... with 'was', you are thinking of it as you intended to ask it earlier.

Why did Piscean use (c) rather than (d)? Could someone please tell me about the use of this tense?

Does (c) mean the following?

At some past time prior to a later past time/event, the speaker had intended to ask it.
(but then the speaker decided to do something else. Or "had intended" indicates that the planned "ask a question" didn't occur.)

I have been inspired by the following:

https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/262227-quot-had-intended-to-visit-quot-and-quot-intended-to-have-visited-quot?p=1414801&viewfull=1#post1414801

https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/262227-quot-had-intended-to-visit-quot-and-quot-intended-to-have-visited-quot?p=1414959&viewfull=1#post1414959

PEU 3rd., 424.2

The past perfect can be used to express an unrealised hope, wish etc. Had is usually stressed in this case.

I HAD hoped we would leave tomorrow, but it won't be possible.
He HAD intended to make a cake, but he ran out of time.

 

[kadioguy]

kadioguy, please wait for responses to a post before you post more questions.

Piscean, I hope I didn't make you unhappy by writing post #6. If I did, I would like to apologize for that.

I think I should have made the context of the conversation clearer.

In that conversation, Tom did ask a question, but for some reason Jones missed it, and after a while:

Jones: Did you ask this one?
Tom: No, the question I meant to ask is/was that one.

 

[teechar]

Can you provide more of the context? Also, why isn't Tom saying "the question I asked"?

 

[kadioguy]

Can you provide more of the context? Also, why isn't Tom saying "the question I asked"?

Context: (In class)

Tom wanted to ask teacher Jones a question. After hesitating for a moment, he asked it. But for some reason teacher Jones missed that, and after a while:

Jones: Sorry, did you ask this one?
Tom: No, the question I meant to ask is/was that one, not this one.

(Teacher Jones is misunderstanding Tom's question, so Tom says "the question I (truly) meant to ask".)

 

[tedmc]

No, the question I meant to ask is/was that one, not this one.

I think either tense could be used. Using the simple past tense does not mean what was said is no longer true.

 

[teechar]

Is Tom pointing to, e.g., a book?

 

[kadioguy]

Is Tom pointing to, e.g., a book?

Um, Tom is pointing to one of the questions on the blackboard.

 

[teechar]

In that case, "is" would be my preferred choice.

 

[kadioguy]

In that case, "is" would be my preferred choice.

... with 'was', you are thinking of it as you had intended to ask it earlier.

Does the following fit?