A past tense does not always have a past meaning. In some kinds of sentence we use verbs like I had, you went or I was wondering to talk about the present or future.

After if.

• If I had the money now I'd buy a car.
• If you caught the ten o'clock train tomorrow you could be in Edinburgh by supper-time.

After it's time, would rather and I wish .

• Ten о 'clock — it's time you went home.
• Don't come and see me today — I'd rather you came tomorrow.
• I wish I had a better memory.

We can express politeness or respect, when we ask for something, by beginning / wondered, I thought, I hoped, I was wondering, I was thinking or I was hoping.

• I wondered if you were free this evening.
• I thought you might like some flowers.
• I was hoping we could have dinner together.

If we are talking about the past, we usually use past tenses even for things which are still true, and situations which still exist.

• Are you deaf? I asked how old you were
• I'm sorry we left Liverpool. It was such a nice place.
• Do you remember that nice couple we met on holiday? They wereGerman, weren't they?