📝 Grammar A2

-고 싶다

-go sipda

To want to (do)

What it means

-고 싶다 means to want to do something. Attach to the verb stem. Polite form: -고 싶어요. For someone else's desire: -고 싶어하다.

Nuance & when to use

Use -고 싶어요 for your own wants. For a third person's want, use -고 싶어해요: 친구가 가고 싶어해요 = My friend wants to go. The -고 싶다 form sounds unnatural for third persons.

⚠ Common mistake

Using -고 싶어요 for third persons (친구가 가고 싶어요) is a very common error. For third-person desires, always use -고 싶어하다/-고 싶어해요.

Example sentences

한국에 꼭 가고 싶어요. Hanguge kkok gago sipeoyo. I really want to go to Korea.

피자 먹고 싶어요. 배고파요. Pija meokgo sipeoyo. Baegopayo. I want to eat pizza. I'm hungry.

한국어를 유창하게 하고 싶어요. Hangugeoreul yuchanghage hago sipeoyo. I want to speak Korean fluently.

좋은 친구가 되고 싶어요. Joeun chinguga doego sipeoyo. I want to be a good friend.

FAQ

When is this used?

Use -고 싶어요 for your own wants. For a third person's want, use -고 싶어해요: 친구가 가고 싶어해요 = My friend wants to go. The -고 싶다 form sounds unnatural for third persons.

What's a common mistake?

Using -고 싶어요 for third persons (친구가 가고 싶어요) is a very common error. For third-person desires, always use -고 싶어하다/-고 싶어해요.

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