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There's a sentence taken from Hewing's book (the writer of Advanced Grammar in Use):

Write v if the italicized parts are correct. If they are wrong, correct them.

We are meeting at seven in the Globe coffee bar. Can you be there, too?

The key answer says it's correct, but it also says that were meeting is also possible, although there's no further explanation.

Also here is related discussion about this problem, but it still hasn't answered my question whether it has something to do with politeness or an event involving the past. However I can't see the past sense in that sentence above. If it's for politeness, then why can you... instead of could you...?

user516076
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  • @MichaelHarvey edited – user516076 Nov 06 '21 at 01:16
  • Been 3 hours, still -1 plus 1 close voter and no answers. What else should I give? I've told the name of the book, I've given the related discussion. Which part is not clear? Just tell me! it's just that if I was smart, I wouldn't ask here. You make enthusiastic students discouraged instead of helping! – user516076 Nov 06 '21 at 02:59
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    I would find it odd to use were meeting in this context. – Kate Bunting Nov 06 '21 at 09:23
  • @MichaelHarvey Absolutely! And you should develop into a complete answer. I can't understand the question was downvoted. We were meeting here means we had planned/had intended to. – None Nov 06 '21 at 11:00
  • I personally don't understand the question was downvoted because this is not an obvious meaning. – None Nov 06 '21 at 11:04
  • @MichaelHarvey They researched on the site at least (even if it's a different question). And frankly this is not the type of thing that is widely documented... – None Nov 06 '21 at 11:11
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    @MichaelHarvey Because you know what key words to use (e.g. planning, uncertainty, etc.) if the OP doesn't know planning or intention or uncertainty is involved here, it's not that easy. – None Nov 06 '21 at 11:19

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