want to and would want to

Question

"want to" and "would want to"Could anyone please guide me on how they convey the though to the reader/listener when we use them.

Blue Jay · Accepted Answer

I want to go to Japan.
If it were not so far away, I would want to go to Japan.

CalifJim · Answer

Wonder123Could anyone please guide me on how they convey the thought to the reader/listener when we use them?

If you want something, you have the feeling of desire in your mind and heart at the moment you say that you want it.

If you would want something, you don't have the feeling of desire in your mind and heart at the moment you say that you would want it. You are only imagining yourself feeling this kind of desire in a situation that you are also imagining, that is, under certain conditions that you are also imagining.

— What if someone came knocking on your door asking for money?
— I would want to know who it was and what the money was going to be used for before I gave them anything.

In the example above, you can't say I want to know ... because there is no one actually asking you for money at the time you say it. You're only imagining a situation in which someone is asking you for money.

CJ

Wonder123 · Answer

Ok, so, is it something that we need to use when giving imaginative form of answer to the question that is kind of imaginative?

CalifJim · Answer

Wonder123Ok, so, is it something that we need to use when giving imaginative form of answer to the question that is kind of imaginative?

Yes, when the question asks you to imagine a situation that is not real — not really happening — you can usually put 'would' in your answer.

CJ

Wonder123 · Answer

Ok thanks, CJ

want to and would want to

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