I wonder - question mark

[Verona_82]

Hello,

I'm wondering why we use question marks in polite requests that begin with I wonder/I was wondering if they are not questions.

I wonder if you could tell me where the coffee is?
I was wondering if you could possibly tell me where the coffee is?
I'm sorry to trouble you but I was wondering if you think you could possibly tell me where the coffee is?

Is it because of the rising intonation or is it ...just so?

Thank you.

 

[5jj]

If we are just expressing our own thoughts (as in I wonder where the coffee is), no question mark is required. If we are actually indirectly asking a question (and that is what we are doing with a polite request), then we commonly use a question mark. In this type of question there is usually no rising intonation.

 

[Verona_82]

Thanks! Do I have to use the question mark in this sentence as well?

I wonder if I can have a receipt, please.

 

[emsr2d2]

Thanks! Do I have to use the question mark in this sentence as well?

I wonder if I can have a receipt, please.

No.

I wonder if I could have a receipt.
Can I have a receipt please?
I wonder - could I have a receipt?

 

[5jj]

As before, we commonly use a question mark.

 

[Verona_82]

Err.... I hate this phrase, but I don't get it.

If we aren't expressing your thoughts but making requests, are the structures

I'm wondering if you...?
I'm wondering if I..... .

?

 

[5jj]

1. I wonder if I closed the window. (I am thinking about it, and trying to decide whether I did or not).
2. I wonder if you closed the window. (I am thinking about it, and trying to decide whether you did or not).
3. I wonder if you would close the window, please? (I am asking, perhaps even ordering, you politely to do this)
4. I wonder if I might/could close the window, please? (I am asking, quite diffidently, for your permission to do this)

in #1 and #2, 'I am wondering' could indicate a deeper/longer thinking process than 'I wonder'.
In #3, 'I am wondering' would make the diffidence of the request/order almost silly.
In #4, 'I am wondering' is diffident to the point of subservient.

I wonder if I got that right. :-?

I wonder if there will be any more questions.:-|
I suppose I could have put a question mark on that last one, indicating that I'd like a response;-).

ps. I'm off to bed now. With any luck, somebody else will have joined in before I get back. They might confirm my opinions - or have better ideas.

 

[Verona_82]

I wonder if there will be any more questions.:-|

Oh, just a little one ;-). I wonder if I should have used a question mark in my first post? Now I think I should.

 

[5jj]

Oh, just a little one ;-). I wonder if I should have used a question mark in my first post? Now I think I should.

'Could have' rather than 'should have'.