What does 'I wonder' mean?

[Ryakar]

Test No. incompl/elem-20 "Where am I?", question 1

Excuse me I ......... if you can help me.

(a) expect
(b) hope
(c) believe
(d) wonder

Test No. incompl/elem-20 "Where am I?", answer 1

Excuse me I wonder if you can help me.

Correct answer: (d) wonder
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hi,

why wonder?

thanks.
ryakar

[Alan]

Wonder in this sentence means literally I ask myself or I am curious to know. It expresses the idea that you are anxious to know something.
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Progressive Forms

[Made Sariada]

Dear Alan and friends,

Anyway, what're the differences between 'hope" and "expect"?

Thanks in advance and I hope to see the answer soon.

Best wishes,

Made Sariada

[Snoopy_Blah_Blah]

Is it correct to say: I wonder if you could help me? Because could is a more polite way to ask than can. Or am I wrong?

[Conchita]

[Snoopy_Blah_Blah]

Does this mean that we can use both can and could in this sentence?

[Conchita]

[Lawrencia Bioh]

let's say am not sure the person really know the place and am thinking if he or she can help me

[Gray]

I am not a teacher but how about --

1) Excuse me, I wonder if you could help me with this address.

2) Could you please help me with this address?
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First lesson - English, not english. I, not i. ~A student of English

[Joyce Wu]

Hi~~~
i still confused about why can we ues 'HOPE' in this sentence?
is 'WONDER' mean 'want to know?'and 'HOPE' mean 'I want to you give me a hand?'
could you guys givmi more specific explain? thx!!

[Alan]

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Hi,

Back to the test sentence - you wouldn't say: 'I hope if you can ..'. That therefore removes 'hope' from the possible answers. If I say: I hope you can help me', it would be in response to: Can I help you?.

If you begin a sentence 'I wonder if you ..', you are about to make a polite request.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Too Many Words

[Joyce Wu]

Alan~
thank for your explain!
i think i got it