(Q) Different Sentence Structure?

Question

What is the difference between the following:
1) I want to tell you...
2) I want you to tell...

Please explain me bit-by-bit as in when to use infinitive before the noun/pronoun and when to use infinitive after the noun/pronoun.

Thanks!

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

1. I want to tell you the truth.
I do the telling and you hear the truth.

2. I want you to tell me the truth.
You tell me the truth.

CB

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousPlease explain

I want [you to tell me your secret]. (You will be speaking to me.)
I want [me to tell you my secret]. (I will be speaking to you.)

In the second case "I" am the person who wants AND "me" (= "I") is the subject of the action that is wanted. In the cases where this happens, we MUST remove the second mention of the same person. So the second sentence above is wrong; it must be changed to

I want [to tell you my secret]. (I will be speaking to you.)

So if you see I want to ... without a pronoun before the infinitive, the implied person is "I", the subject of "want".

I want me to ... always becomes I want to.
You want you to ... always becomes You want to.
We want us to ... always becomes We want to.
He wants himself to ... always becomes He wants to.
And so on.

CJ

(Q) Different Sentence Structure?

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