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by R. S. Karunaratne
When and where to use 'want'
'Want' is a regular verb meaning 'to desire' or 'need'. It can also
be used as a countable noun.
1. We use 'want' to express a wish or need for something.
The workers want a long holiday.
What do you want for breakfast?
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I want you to do the marketing today. |
We want independence more than anything else.
She wants to dance.
What do they want now?
2. We use 'want' to express a wish or need to do something.
Do you want to go aborad for higher studies?
I wanted to phone you but I didn't have your number.
She wants to be a nurse.
The teacher wants me to rewrite the essay.
We want to be useful citizens.
3. We use 'want' to talk about needs or wishes involving other
people.
I want you to do the marketing today.
Some political parties want workers to demand higher wages.
I don't want anyone to read my diary.
The police wanted the suspect to show where the stolen goods were
hidden.
The government wants everybody to keep the environment clean.
4. We use 'want' to say how you need or wish something to be done.
Mother wants the living room colour washed before the guests arrive.
The editor wanted the news item to be published prominently.
Father wants his children to do well in life.
5. Collocations
Certain adverbs frequently occur with 'want'
I just wanted to tell you that you are very polite.
This is the book I always wanted.
She really wanted to play the role of a village damsel.
He never wanted to be a policeman.
Some infinitives follow want to.
I don't want to be humiliated.
The teacher wants to know what he said.
I just wanted to say 'hi' to you.
What do you want to do with this small house?
Do you want to see my library?
I want to talk to your mother.
6. Set phrases
Do you want another ice cream?
(When you offer something to somebody)
Did you want to see the chairman?
(Polite way of asking what someone wants)
Who wants more rice?
(when offering something to a group)
I'll leave now, if you want.
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Do you want another ice cream?
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(When you make an offer)
What I really want is a nylon ribbon.
(To make clear what you want)
I just wanted to say that you have done a great service to the
country.
For want of space we are going to admit only ten students.
(To show a lack of something)
Activity
Put the words in brackets in the correct place and check your answers
with the key.
1. The teacher wants you clean the black board (to)
2. Do want to come with me? (you)
3. She wanted to join the army. (never)
4. Indians wanted to sign and agreement. (us)
5. What we wans is a lot of noise. (don't)
6. I want to say something nice to you. (just)
7. Amal wanted to help me. (always)
8. What really wants is a computer. (she)
9. I wanted the cupboard not polished (painted)
10.What do you want eat? (to)
KEY
1. The teacher wants you to clean the blackboard.
2. Do you want to come with me?
3. She never wanted to join the army.
4. Indians wanted us to sign an agreement.
5. What we don't wants is a lot of noise.
6. I just want to say something nice to you.
7. Amal always wanted to help me.
8. What she really wants is a computer.
9. I wanted the cupboard painted not polished.
10.What do you want to eat?
Same or opposite?
Some of the following pairs of words have the same meaning. Others
have the opposite meaning. If similar, write 's' in front of it. If
opposite, write 'o'. Check your answers with the key.
1. altruistic - egoistic
2. philanthropic - misanthropic
3. polygamous - monogamous
4. skilful - dexterous
5. threatening - sinister
6. visual - optical
7. infamous - notorious
8. unskilled - consummate
9. acute - chronic
10. halting - glib
11. oculist - opthalmologist
12. paediatric - geriatric
13. exonerate - convict
14. piety - impiety
15. cosmonaut - astronaut
16. autopsy - biopsy
17. cut in two - dichotomous
18. hereditary - congenital
19. 'old hand' - veteran
20. timely - opportune
*****
[Key]
1. o 2. o 3. o 4. s 5. s
6. s 7. s, 8. o 9. o 10. o
11. s 12. o 13. o
14. o 15. s
16. o 17. s 18. o 19. s 20. s
*****
Starters :
Simple past
tense
We use the simple past tense to show that an action happened in the
past.
Catherine died in 1895.
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Simon slept on the floor. |
Supun studied in India five years ago.
Saumya cut the vegetables for cooking.
The cup slipped from Prema's hands.
Anandappa dried the fish in the sun.
We add 'ed' to regular verbs to form the simple past tense.
Amal wanted to go abroad for studies.
Chandu pasted the pictures on the wall.
Bandu jumped up and clapped.
We decided to go by train.
Grandmother slipped in the bathroom.
Irregular verbs take different forms.
Simon slept on the floor.
The dog bit his hand.
She sat cross legged on the mat.
Mother put sugar into a bottle.
Father left home in the morning.
Activity
Fill in the blanks with the present tense or past tense form of the
verbs given in the brackets.
1. Princess, my pet, .......... herself every morning. (clean)
2. Amphibians can .......... on land and in water. (live)
3. Sita ........ about the accident yesterday. (hear)
4. Please ....... to me without shouting. (listen)
5. Mallika ....... to England every year. (go)
6. She ....... in the office yesterday. (be)
7. The pilgrims ....... early in the morning. (leave)
8. Jackson .......... a large fish yesterday. (catch)
9. She sometimes ......... to switch off the lights. (forget)
10. My father ....... let me drive his car. (never)
*******
[Key]
1. Princess, my pet, cleans herself every morning.
2. Amphibians can live on land and in water.
3. Sita heard about the accident yesterday.
4. Please listen to me without shouting.
5. Mallika goes to England every year.
6. She was in the office yesterday.
7. The pilgrims left early in the morning.
8. Jackson caught a large fish yesterday.
9. She sometimes forgets to switch off the lights.
10. My father never let me drive his car. |
