The phone's ringing. Who's it for, I wonder?

[Nonverbis]

This is from a textbook on grammar called "A Grammar of Present-day English" by I.P. Krylova.

The task is: Explain why the Present Continuous is not used in the following sentences despite the fact that the actions in them take place at the moment of speaking.

The phone's ringing. Who's it for, I wonder?

I suppose, it is a performative verb. Am I right?

 

[5jj]

No.

The present continuous is used in the first sentence. BE is not used dynamically in the second verb.

 

[Nonverbis]

Pardon for that. My fault. The question is about the word wonder only.

 

[emsr2d2]

Pardon for Sorry about that. It's my fault for not being clear. The question is about the word wonder only.

What has the word order got to do with the task?

 

[Nonverbis]

The task is about the word "wonder".

 

[emsr2d2]

The task is about the word "wonder".

Sorry! I misread post #3, mainly because you failed to enclose "wonder" in quotation marks. My brain simply saw "word order".

 

[Nonverbis]

I have changed the colour of the word in the question. Pardon for all this mess.

 

[5jj]

'Wonder' is used statively.

 

[Nonverbis]

'Wonder' is used statively.

But why? Dictionaries don't mention it as a stative verb.
"I'm just wondering who's it for". Sounds Ok for me. Especially taking into consideration that polite questions often start like this.

Isn't it a performative verb?

 

[5jj]

Most dictionaries deal with the meanings of words, not grammatical limitations.

'Wonder' is frequently used statively, but the limited duration of the wondering can be expressed by the use of the progressive form.

 

[Nonverbis]

You mean that this word is denoting mental proceesses. I seem to start understanding this case. Thank you.

 

[jutfrank]

This particular use of wonder, which is to ask oneself a question, is used in the present simple only.

 

[Tdol]

I was wondering, which is used to be polite, is a separate use.

 

[jutfrank]

I was wondering, which is used to be polite, is a separate use.

And so is I am wondering.