I wanted to see what the space looked like in person

[kadioguy]

[From a TOEIC test]

Man: Ms. Peters, it's great to finally see the new office you've told me so much about. I've had a few ideas for the design from the pictures you sent me, but I wanted to see what the space looked like in person.
---
a. ... but I wanted to see what the space looked like in person.
b. ... but I want to see what the space looks like in person. [my version]
c. ... but I've wanted to see what the space looks like in person. [my version]

In my opinion:

(a) makes sense. It means "I've had a few ideas for the design from the pictures you sent me, but I wanted to see what the space looked like in person (when I saw the pictures) [And now it's great to finally see the new office]."

(b) doesn't make much sense. Since the man has already seen the new office, it is not logical at this time to say "but I want to see what the space looks like in person."

(c) is possible. It means that the man has been hoping to see the space. [And now he finally sees it.]

Do you agree?

[Edit: Changed "I wants" to "I want" for (b).]

 

[Tarheel]

b. "I wants" is never right.
c. "I've been wanting" might work there.

 

[kadioguy]

c. "I've been wanting" might work there.

Could I say "'I've been wanting' here means that the man has been hoping to see the space [and now he finally sees it]?

 

[Tarheel]

Could I say "'I've been wanting' here means that the man has been hoping to see the space [and now he finally sees it]?

No. In fact, I have changed my mind. "I had been wanting" would work better there.

 

[kadioguy]

No. In fact, I have changed my mind. "I had been wanting" would work better there.

So, "I want/I've wanted/I've been wanting" all wouldn't work for the same reason - since the man has already seen the new office, it is not logical at this time to say those.

Is that right?

[Edit: Changed "I wants" to "I want".]

 

[tedmc]

I would always use the simplest tense in a given context, i.e. the past simple, unless there are reasons to use a "higher" tense like the past perfect or past perfect continuous.

 

[kadioguy]

I would always use the simplest tense in a given context, i.e. the past simple, unless there are reasons to use a "higher" tense like the past perfect or past perfect continuous.

Could you please tell me if you agree with what I said in post #5?

 

[probus]

@kadioguy Your version is fine and you are correct that "wanted" in a) is illogical. Nevertheless, many native speakers (incuding yours truly) use the simple past tense in such contexts. It's called backshifting.

 

[5jj]

Ms. Peters, it's great to finally see the new office you've told me so much about. I've had a few ideas for the design from the pictures you sent me, but I wanted to see what the space looked like in person.

He wanted (past tense for past time) to see in person what the space looked like. Now the wanting has come to an end with the actual seeing.

 

[kadioguy]

@kadioguy Your version is fine

Do you mean (c) "I've wanted" in post #1?

and you are correct that "wanted" in a) is illogical.

Um, I didn't say that. What I said in post #1 is that "I want" in (b) is illogical.