wanting or want?

Question

Lately I have noticed that a lot of people use "wanting" in sentences , or in books , but I don't get it because my English teachers have always said to me that with verbs like "love", "like" , "want" etc. we can't write the verb ending "ing" But how it is possible that it's in books then ? Some examples "She reached her hand out, wanting to touch him..." or "Not wanting to talk about it, Clary turned..." or "Actually, I’ve been wanting to ask you how ..." I really want to know when I can use it and when I can't .

Avangi · Accepted Answer

AnonymousEnglish teachers have always said to me that with verbs like "love", "like" , "want" etc. we can't write the verb ending "ing"

I've never heard this.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

AnonymousI don't get it because my English teachers have always said to me that with verbs like "love", "like" , "want" etc. we can't write the verb ending "ing"

There are cases where the present participle (the -ing form) is used for verbs which usually are used to express a state, (the progressive tenses are not used.)

1) When it is a non-finite verb.

She had a very loving mother. (modifier)
Loving him is all I want to do. I am infatuated. (gerund, used as a noun, the gerund phrase is the subject )

She reached out, wanting to touch him. (participle phrase, reduced, non-finite clause, this phrase is a sentence modifier)
Not wanting to talk about it, Clary turned ... participle phrase, reduced, non-finite clause, this phrase is a subject modifier)

2) When the verb has a different meaning than expressing a state:

He is being very naughty today. (be = behave, a dynamic meaning for this verb)
Actually, I’ve been wanting to ask you (want = desire, a dynamic meaning for this verb)
I'll be seeing him next week. (see = meet with, a dynamic meaning for this verb)

As a finite verb, the stative verbs are not (by traditional rules) used in progressive tenses:

John wants ice cream. (Not John is wanting ice cream.)
John likes ice cream. (Not John is liking ice cream.)

Dimsumexpress · Answer

Anonymous"Actually, I’ve been wanting to ask you how ..." I really want to know when I can use it and when I can't .

It is not as clear as black and white. First, you must understand the different form of sentence construction and the use of participle construction. These may help you:
http://profrajappansblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/participial-construction-absolute.html
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/participles

AnonymousShe reached her hand out, wanting to touch him..."

It seemed to me that there is a big disconnection between your teachers explanations and how you understand them.
"Wanting to touch him..." is a present partciple phrase construction which is made up of the "ing" form of the verb; "want".
The core meaning can be expressed in the compound sentence construction; " She reached out her hand and wanted to touch him ...".
If you have more than a idea / concept to describe without using a lot of " ands" in the compound form, you could use the participle phrase to add more information to the main clause. Example: I saw her running up the stairs, screaming for help with blood dripping down from her face....

wanting or want?

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