Oral Drilling – Want Sb to Do Sth, and Would like, by michelle (2011)
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Mistakes Upper Intermediate students should not have (for Avanzado 2 students' LoM)
If someone wants someone else to do something you cannot use the Spanish syntax to express that! English has its own structure for that: to want + sb (or Object pronoun) + to-infinitive verb indicating what the action is. [Pronunciation issues highlighted in bold]
Mum wants us to call her when we get there. NEVER EVER: Mum wants that we call her…
An alternative to want is would like. It's more polite, or it mitigates the boldness or harshness want may indicate. Notice how both sound in different examples.
I want you to listen to me – Quiero que me escuches
I'd like you to listen to me – Por favor, ¿podéis atender un momento? (well… just trying to make you think of context and intentions!)
Notice this would like is not exactly the same as the Would you like…? structure used for invitations:
Would you like to have a drink? – Invitation, with verb
Would you like to go out with me? – Invitation (or Request!), with verb
Would you like some more coffee? – Invitation, with noun
Would you like a beer? - Invitation, with noun
This would like is always with someone after the would you like followed by a full infinitive verb:
Would you like ME to buy you a drink?
Would you like MARÍA to go out this evening?
Would you like JUAN to stop drinking?
In case it helps someone: This was called in Latin, "subordinadas de infinitivo no concertado", where the subject was in the Accusative and the verb in the non-personal form of the infinitive.
Functional Translation exercise + Gathering Useful Language for Oral Drilling
Add sentences to these and ask your classmates to translate them!
1. ¿Quieres que la llame yo?
2. ¿Quieres que (ella) (se) venga para acá?
3. No, por favor. No quiero que hagas eso (por mí).
4. Cf. (here it's more tentative): same sentence but meaning "No querría yo que hicieras eso".
5. No querían que nos fuéramos/marcháramos.
6. La profa quiere que entreguemos nuestros trabajos el próximo día.
7. ¿Quieres que les llevemos al colegio?
8. ¿Quieres que nos tomemos algo?
Listen to the answers!
A. Oral Drilling with "want" Sb "to do" sth
B. Oral Drilling with "would like" Sb "to do" sth
If you send me the sentences you collect, I can record them!