Saying you want to do something
Key points
- The verb vouloir is an irregular verb meaning to want.
- It can be used in front of nouns or verbs.
When you want to express the idea of wanting something, the most common way is to use vouloir. Vouloir is an irregular verb , and conjugates like this:
| vouoir to want | ||
|---|---|---|
| je | veux | |
| tu | veux | |
| il / elle | veut | |
| nous | voulons | |
| vous | voulez | |
| ils / elles | veulent | |
Note
Like I want in English, je veux can sound a bit harsh. A way of “softening”
it is to use the form known as the conditional:
Je voudrais une pomme
I’d like an apple
Vouloir is often used in front of a noun to express to want something:
Je veux un sandwich
I want a sandwich
Elle veut une bicyclette pour son anniversaire
She wants a bicycle for her birthday
Vouloir can also be used in front of a verb in the infinitive to express to want to do something:
Tu veux jouer au tennis avec moi?
Do you want to play tennis with me?
Nous voulons aller au cinéma
We want to go to the cinema