want vs would like

Hi,

As far as I know, want = would like but would like is more polite.

Generally speaking, that's true.

However, you can also use 'I would like' in some other ways, eg for hypothetical (unreal) situations, eg If I won $10 million dollars, I would like to buy Clive a ne

You are completely correct on your first post.

But you can use non-idiomatic would like (i.e., with a literal use of like):

I think I would like that suit better in navy blue.

CJ

Hi,

You wrote:

"

But you can use non-idiomatic would like (i.e., with a literal use of like):

I think I would like that suit better in navy blue. "

1/ Please tell me the meaning of the modal would here.

2/ Is suit here a noun? Why isn't there an article? Wh

1. would is the modal used for the consequent clause of a conditional structure.
If that suit were navy blue, I would buy it.
If that suit were black with gray pin stripes, I would like it better.
If it were gray, I would like that suit better.
The condition (if-clause) is implicit - not explicit - in the given sentence. in navy b

Tung QuocI think I would like that suit better in navy blue. "
1/ Please tell me the meaning of the modal would here.

I strongly suggest to look in a English-Vietnamese dictionary, or ask a good English teacher or speaker in your country.

You m

Tung QuocHi,

As far as I know, want = would like but would like is more polite.

Right?

Thanks
Quoc

Quoc,

Maybe this can help.

To want something = is to desire to possess or have

To like something = is to have a strong interest for something

Would like to = A preference or

Does it sound rude if I use "I would like to" to order something.

For example, at McDonald's, the server asks me "How can I help you?"

and I say " I would like to have a 5-piece chicken select."

Does that sound rude?

Is it better to say ' Can I have a 5-piece chicken select.

I know it's definitely rude to say " I want a 5-piece chicken select", but how

Anonymousat McDonald's, the server asks me "How can I help you?"and I say " I would like to have a 5-piece chicken select."Does that sound rude?

No. It doesn't sound rude. But leave out "to have" and use the contraction "I'd" if you want to make it more idiomatic.

I'd like a five-piece chicken select.
________________

C

Thank you very much! You answer is very helpful.

I have another question concerning the use of "want to"

Here is an isolated sentence from a corpus of classroom interaction.

I want to drink a cup of beer.

The sentence was given by a teacher, who is a non-native speaker of English, so that the students could translate it into the target language).

As a f

AnonymousAs a free- standing sentence. How does that sound to you? Does that sound rude? What context of use would it come to mind first when you look at this sentence?

It doesn't sound rude. It sounds foreign. We don't drink cups of beer here. We drink a bottle of beer or a glass of beer, to name two possibilities. 'cup' goes with coffee or tea: a cup