Expressing Wants and wishes For more English tutorials, please visit: https://www.thelecturette.com

1. Wants and Wishes

2. Wants and Wishes
You can say what someone wants by using
‘would like’ followed by a ‘to’-infinitive or a
noun group.
I would like to know the date of the next
meeting.
John would like his book back.

3. Wants and Wishes
When the subject is a pronoun, you often use
the short form ‘-’d’ instead of ‘would’.
I’ d like more information about the work you
do.
We’ d like seats in the non-smoking section,
please.

4. Wants and Wishes
In spoken English, you can also use the short
form ‘-’d’ instead of ‘would’ when the subject
is a noun.
Sally’ d like to go to the circus.

5. Wants and Wishes
You can say what someone does not want by
using ‘would not like’ or ‘wouldn’t like’.
I would not like to see it.
They wouldn’ t like that.

6. Wants and Wishes
You use ‘would like’ followed by ‘to have’ and
a pas participle to say that someone wishes
now that something had happened in the
past, but that it did not happen.
I would like to have felt more relaxed.
She’ d like to have heard me first.

7. Wants and Wishes
You use ‘would have liked’, followed by a ‘to’-
infinitive or a noun group, to say that
someone wanted something to happen, but it
did not happen.
Perhaps he would have liked to be a teacher.
I would have liked more ice cream.

8. Wants and Wishes
Note the difference. ‘Would like to have’
refers to present wishes about past events.
‘Would have liked’ refers to past wishes about
past events.

9. Wants and Wishes
You can also use ‘would hate’, ‘would love’,
or ‘would prefer’, followed by a ‘to’-infinitive or
a noun group.
I would hate to move to another house now.
I would prefer a cup of tea.

10. Wants and Wishes
Note: ‘Would enjoy’ is followed by a noun
group or an ‘-ing’ form, not by a ‘to’-infinitive.
I would enjoy a bath before we go.
I would enjoy seeing him again.

11. Wants and Wishes
You can use ‘would rather’ or ‘would sooner’
followed by the base form of a verb to say
that someone prefers one situation to the
other.
He’ d rather be playing golf.
I’ d sooner walk than take the bus.

12. Wants and Wishes
You use ‘I wouldn’t mind’, followed by an ‘-
ing’ form or a noun group, to say that you
would like to do or have something.
I wouldn’ t mind being the manager of a
store.
I wouldn’ t mind a cup of tea.

13. Wants and Wishes
You can also express what you want to
happen now by using ‘I wish’ or ‘If only’
followed by a past simple verb.
I wish he wasn’ t here.
If only she had a car.

14. Wants and Wishes
You can also express what you want to
happen now by using ‘I wish’ or ‘If only’
followed by a past simple verb.
I wish he wasn’ t here.
If only she had a car.

15. Wants and Wishes
Note: In formal English, you sometime use
‘were’ instead of ‘was’ in sentences like
these.
I often wish that I were really wealthy.

16. Wants and Wishes
When you want to express regret about past
events you use the past perfect.
I wish I hadn’ t married him.

17. Wants and Wishes
When you want to say that you wish that
someone was able to do something, you use
‘could’.
If only they could come with us!

18. Wants and Wishes
When you want to say that you wish that
someone was willing to do something, you
use ‘would’.
If only they would realize how stupid they’ ve
been.

19. Questions?
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