Modal verbs for wishes: 想, 要 and 想要
Modal verbs (情态动词) can be used to express possibility, desire, ability, and necessity. Modal verbs cannot appear without a predicate and can only appear in predicate phrases.
想
想 
can be both a modal verb and a main verb.
can be both a modal verb and a main verb.The modal verb 想
Modal verb 想 indicates a desire to take some kind of action.
It can be used with an adverb of degree, e.g. 很 or 真 .
indicates a desire to take some kind of action.
It can be used with an adverb of degree, e.g. 很 or 真 .Examples
他很想买这本书
He really wants to buy this book.
tā hěn xiǎng mǎi zhè běn shū
我想请你去一家餐馆
I would like to invite you to the restaurant
wǒ xiǎng qǐng nǐ qù yī jiā cānguǎn
To make a negation we should use the negative particle 不 before the modal verb.
before the modal verb. Pay attention
We can not use the negative particle 没 with modal verbs.
with modal verbs. Examples
我不想去，他让我去了
I didn't want to go. He made me go
wǒ bù xiǎng qù, tā ràng wǒ qù le
The main verb 想
As a main verb, 想 has several different meanings. The most common are:
1) "to miss someone or something", "to think of someone or something".
The main verb often comes with the suffix 着 :
:
Examples
我想我的家人
I miss my family
wǒ xiǎng wǒ de jiārén
我会一直想着你
I will always think of you
wǒ huì yìzhí xiǎngzhe nǐ
Pay attention
When used in this way, 想 is usually a part of the word 想念 .
.2) “to think about”, "to contemplate“.
Examples
让我想一想
Let me think about it
ràng wǒ xiǎng yì xiǎng
Pay attention
Remember the common phrase 想起来 .
.
When describing a certain result of an action, 想 is often used with the verb complements 到 and 好:
想好
想到
想到 Examples
她突然想到他可能已经离去
She was struck by the sudden thought that he might already have left
tā túrán xiǎngdào tā kěnéng yǐjīng líqù
我什么都想好了
I've got it all figured out
wǒ shénme dōu xiǎnghǎo le
3) "to think", "to consider".
Examples
我想这值很多钱
I think it costs a lot of money
wǒ xiǎng zhè zhí hěnduō qián
要
要 can also be a modal verb and a main verb.
can also be a modal verb and a main verb.
The modal verb 要
The modal verb 要 has a few meanings:
1) "to intend".
Expresses an intention to do something.
Adverbs of degree cannot be used before the modal verb 要.
Pay attention
In this meaning 要 and 想 are similar, but while 想 expresses a desire to do something, 要 indicates intention.
Examples
你要看那本小说吗？
Are you going to read that novel?
nǐ yào kàn nà běn xiǎoshuō ma
周末我的朋友都要去电影院看电影
My friends are going to watch a movie on the weekend
zhōumò wǒ de péngyou dōu yào qù diànyǐngyuàn kàn diànyǐng
In sentences about the future, 要 is not needed if no plans are indicated.
Examples
明天她不去旅游
She isn’t traveling tomorrow
míngtiān tā bú qù lǚyóu
Negative forms of 要 are 不想 and 不愿意 .
and 不愿意 . Pay attention
We don’t use 不要 in this meaning.
Examples
我不想看那本小说
I don’t want to read that novel
wǒ bù xiǎng kàn nà běn xiǎoshuō
他们不愿意去电影院看电影
They don’t want to go to the movie theatre
tāmen bú yuànyì qù diànyǐngyuàn kàn diànyǐng
2) "have to", "need to".
Indicates a necessity to do or not do something because of specific reasons or factors. To emphasize the meaning the adverb 一定 can be added before 要 but cannot go after the modal verb.
can be added before 要 but cannot go after the modal verb.
Examples
你一定要冷静下来
You have to calm down
nǐ yào lěngjìng xiàlái
你要去图书馆借一本课本
You have to go to the library to get a textbook
nǐ yào qù túshūguǎn jiè yì běn kèběn
Negative forms of this modal verb are 不用 , 不要 , 别 .
别 is often used when addressing someone.
, 不要 , 别 .
别 is often used when addressing someone.
Pay attention
不要 is used when forbidding.
Examples
小学生都不用学化学
Primary school students don’t need to study chemistry
xiǎoxuéshēng dōu bú yòng xué huàxué
请别在教室里说话
Please, don’t talk in the classroom
qǐng bié zài jiàoshì lǐ shuōhuà
这里不要抽烟
Smoking is prohibited here
zhèlǐ bú yào chōuyān
3) "will do".
Indicates the possibility of an action.
Pay attention
Similar to 可能 and 会 but has more affirmative tone.
and 会 but has more affirmative tone.Examples
他许诺要永远爱她
He promised to love her forever.
tā xǔnuò yào yǒngyuǎn ài tā
The main verb 要
要 as a main verb contains the meaning of “to ask, to want” or “to order”. It is followed by a direct object in a sentence.
Pay attention
Usually it’s an object or an abstract idea.
Examples
你们要什么？
What would you like to order?
nǐmen yào shénme
我要一杯绿茶
I want green tea
wǒ yào yì bēi lǜchá
Sometimes 要 translates as “to need something”.
Examples
那笔钱他还要
He still needs that money
nà bǐ qián tā hái yào
The verb 想要
You can put 要 and 想 together to make the word 想要 .
It can be either a modal verb or a semantic verb.
.
It can be either a modal verb or a semantic verb.Examples
这个男人想要一杯咖啡
This man wants a cup of coffee
zhè ge nánrén xiǎngyào yì bēi kāfēi
我想要离开这儿
I want to get out of here
wǒ xiǎngyào líkāi zhèr