Expressing desire with -고 싶다 (want to do)
I can express what I want and don't want to do using -고 싶다
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
한국에 가고 싶어요.
I want to go to Korea.
뭐 먹고 싶어요?
What do you want to eat?
오늘은 쉬고 싶어요.
I want to rest today.
커피를 마시고 싶지 않아요.
I don't want to drink coffee.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
To express wanting to do something, attach -고 싶다 to the verb stem.
| Verb | Stem | -고 싶다 form | Polite form |
|---|---|---|---|
| 먹다 (eat) | 먹 | 먹고 싶다 | 먹고 싶어요 |
| 가다 (go) | 가 | 가고 싶다 | 가고 싶어요 |
| 보다 (see) | 보 | 보고 싶다 | 보고 싶어요 |
| 배우다 (learn) | 배우 | 배우고 싶다 | 배우고 싶어요 |
Negative: verb stem + -고 싶지 않아요 (don't want to).
Past: verb stem + -고 싶었어요 (wanted to).
Questions: 뭐 하고 싶어요? (What do you want to do?), 어디에 가고 싶어요? (Where do you want to go?)
Note: -고 싶다 is used for 1st and 2nd person. For 3rd person desires, use -고 싶어하다: 그 사람은 한국에 가고 싶어해요 (That person wants to go to Korea).
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesUse -고 싶다 for 3rd person (should be -고 싶어하다). Forget to conjugate 싶다.
Used -고 싶다 for 3rd person instead of -고 싶어하다
-고 싶다 = 1st/2nd person. For 3rd person, use -고 싶어하다
Failed to conjugate 싶다 for politeness level
싶다 → 싶어요 (polite), 싶습니다 (formal), 싶어 (casual)
한국에 가고 싶어요.
I want to go to Korea.
가 (go) + -고 싶어요 = want to go. Polite present form.
뭐 먹고 싶어요?
What do you want to eat?
뭐 (what) + 먹고 싶어요 (want to eat). Common question pattern.
오늘은 쉬고 싶어요.
I want to rest today.
쉬 (rest) + -고 싶어요 = want to rest. 오늘은 = today (topic).
커피를 마시고 싶지 않아요.
I don't want to drink coffee.
마시고 싶 + -지 않아요 = don't want to drink. Negative form of -고 싶다.
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Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises