Revision as of 11:56, 1 July 2013

Verb

In French the verb "vouloir" is associated with "volonté" (will) as well as with desire. In English "want" is more deeply intertwined with a lack (un manque). When something is found wanting, it is insufficient, it is missing something necessary. This basic meaning of "want" is interesting, because it makes the grammatical subject an experiencer as much as an agent.

lexical

Examples:

• They want new screens.
• I want you. (Uncle Sam sez')

modalizer

When it combines with "to", "want to" is as much a modalizer as a lexical verb. Like "going to" / "have to", the modalizing particle "to" is reduced to ə.

It adds a notion of desire or lack to another verb in the infinitive mode (active or passive) which in turn expresses the object of desire.

• She wants to finish before evening.
• He wants (her) to be finished before evening.
• They wanted to be loved, and they were.
• They wanted to Ø love each other, and they did.

• Wanna' play? [Do you want to play?]
• Wanna' stop for lunch?
• Watcha' wanna' do? [What do you want to do?]

Noun

Participles

wanting

wanted

Proverbs

Waste not, want not.