Learning grammar is one of the most difficult things for Korean language learners. On this blog, we will try to help you learn Korean grammar in the quickest and easiest way possible. This blog will be helpful for those who are studying the Korean language and want to improve their grammar skills.
Today, we’ll see how to form sentences with the grammar pattern “V + 고 싶다,” along with some example sentences.
It is equivalent to “want to” or “prefer to” in English. It is used to express one’s wish or desire.
V-고 싶다 is used when the subject is the first or second person.
V-고 싶어하다 is used when the subject is the third person.
How to conjugate '고 싶다' grammar pattern?
No. | Pattern | Case | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Verb + 고 싶다 | Used in both cases, whether there is a final consonant or not. | 먹고싶다 etc. |
2 | Verb + 고 싶어 하다 | Used in both cases, whether there is a final consonant or not. | 먹고 싶어 해요 etc. |
1)V-고 싶다 is used if subject is the first or second person.
Remove ‘다’ from the basic form of the verb and attach ‘고 싶다’ after the verb stem.
‘고 싶다’ is used regardless of whether the verb stem ends with a final consonant or not.
Example sentences:
- 먹다 → 먹고 싶다 (I want to eat.)
- 주다 → 주고 싶다 (I want to give.)
- 가다 → 가고 싶다 (I want to go.)
- 듣다 → 듣고 싶다 (I want to hear.)
- 열다 → 열고 싶다 (I want to open.)
2) When the subject is the third person, ‘Verb-고 싶어 하다’ should be used.
Remove ‘다’ from the basic form of the verb and attach ‘고 싶어 하다’ after the verb stem.
‘고 싶어 하다’ is used regardless of whether the verb stem ends with a final consonant or not.
Example sentences :
- 제 동생은 불고기를 먹고 싶어해요. - My younger sibling wants to eat bulgogi.
- 그녀는 영화를 보고 싶어해요. - She wants to watch a movie.
- 제 친구는 비빔밥을 먹고 싶어해요. - My friend wants to eat bibimbap.
- 어제 왔던 사람들이 집을 사고 싶어해요. - The people who came yesterday want to buy the house.
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
- 한국말을 못해요. 한국말을 잘하고 싶어요. - I can’t speak Korean well. I want to speak Korean well.
- 날씨가 더워서 수박을 먹고 싶어요. - It’s hot, so I want to eat watermelon.
- 고향에 가고 싶은데 일이 너무 많아서 못 가요. I want to visit my hometown, but I have too much work, so I can’t go.
- 안나 씨는 날씬해지고 싶어 해요. - Anna wants to become slim.
- 방을 나 혼자 사용하고 싶다. - I’d like to use the room by myself.
- 그가 상황을 심사숙고할 시간을 더 가지고 싶어해요. - He wants more time to think things over.
NOTE :
When 고 싶다 is used after an adjective, it changes to ‘Adjective + 아/어지 + 고 싶다’.
The sentences can then be formed like :
- 날씬하다 - 날씬해지고 싶다 ( I want to be slim. )
- 건강하다 - 건강해지고 싶다 ( I want to be healthy. )
- 행복하다 - 행복해지고 싶다 ( I want to be happy. )
Check out the list of 200 Korean verbs given below and practice making your own sentences with V + 고 싶다 ending.
Learning Korean can be tricky, especially when the goal of your learning is conversation. If you’ve ever attempted to speak Korean but were unable to, then hopefully you’ll find this post helpful.
Thank you for reading. If you have any questions or suggestions, comment down below.
