want

Regular
Infinitive
want
Past Simple
wanted
Past Participle
wanted
-ing Form
wanting
3rd Person
wants
want wants wanting wanted

Want means to have a desire for something. Regular verb: want-wanted-wanted.

Meanings

  • To desire or wish for
  • To need or require
  • To be sought by police

Common Collocations

want to want for nothing wanted list want badly all I want

Tip for Learners

Want + infinitive: want to go. Want + object + infinitive: want him to go. Want for nothing means to have everything needed.
Present Simple
I want
you want
he/she/it wants
we want
they want
Examples - Present Simple
  • I want to learn a new language.
  • You want everything to be perfect.
  • She wants to become a doctor.
  • We want the best for our children.
  • They want to travel the world.
Present Continuous
I am wanting
you are wanting
he/she/it is wanting
we are wanting
they are wanting
Examples - Present Continuous
  • I am wanting more from this job lately.
  • You are wanting too much too soon.
  • He is wanting in confidence these days.
  • We are wanting for nothing here.
  • They are wanting better working conditions.
Present Perfect
I have wanted
you have wanted
he/she/it has wanted
we have wanted
they have wanted
Examples - Present Perfect
  • I have wanted this my whole life.
  • You have wanted to tell me something.
  • She has wanted to visit Japan for years.
  • We have wanted to move for a long time.
  • They have wanted revenge since then.
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been wanting
you have been wanting
he/she/it has been wanting
we have been wanting
they have been wanting
Examples - Present Perfect Continuous
  • I have been wanting to talk to you.
  • You have been wanting a new car for ages.
  • He has been wanting to propose for months.
  • We have been wanting to renovate the house.
  • They have been wanting to expand the business.
Past Simple
I wanted
you wanted
he/she/it wanted
we wanted
they wanted
Examples - Past Simple
  • I wanted to help but couldn't.
  • You wanted this more than anyone.
  • She wanted to be left alone.
  • We wanted to surprise you.
  • They wanted nothing to do with it.
Past Continuous
I was wanting
you were wanting
he/she/it was wanting
we were wanting
they were wanting
Examples - Past Continuous
  • I was wanting to leave before the argument.
  • You were wanting too much from them.
  • He was wanting for attention.
  • We were wanting to start over.
  • They were wanting in many areas.
Past Perfect
I had wanted
you had wanted
he/she/it had wanted
we had wanted
they had wanted
Examples - Past Perfect
  • I had wanted to tell you sooner.
  • You had wanted this job for years.
  • She had wanted to become an actress.
  • We had wanted to visit before it closed.
  • They had wanted to expand earlier.
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been wanting
you had been wanting
he/she/it had been wanting
we had been wanting
they had been wanting
Examples - Past Perfect Continuous
  • I had been wanting to say this for a while.
  • You had been wanting a change for years.
  • He had been wanting to quit his job.
  • We had been wanting to move abroad.
  • They had been wanting to retire early.
Future Simple
I will want
you will want
he/she/it will want
we will want
they will want
Examples - Future Simple
  • I will want an explanation for this.
  • You will want to hear this news.
  • She will want to know the truth.
  • We will want proof before deciding.
  • They will want compensation.
Future Continuous
I will be wanting
you will be wanting
he/she/it will be wanting
we will be wanting
they will be wanting
Examples - Future Continuous
  • I will be wanting answers by tomorrow.
  • You will be wanting more eventually.
  • He will be wanting his money back.
  • We will be wanting updates regularly.
  • They will be wanting a response.
Future Perfect
I will have wanted
you will have wanted
he/she/it will have wanted
we will have wanted
they will have wanted
Examples - Future Perfect
  • I will have wanted this for twenty years.
  • You will have wanted to change by then.
  • She will have wanted a family someday.
  • We will have wanted this all along.
  • They will have wanted justice.
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been wanting
you will have been wanting
he/she/it will have been wanting
we will have been wanting
they will have been wanting
Examples - Future Perfect Continuous
  • I will have been wanting this for decades.
  • You will have been wanting change for years.
  • He will have been wanting to retire.
  • We will have been wanting to move for ages.
  • They will have been wanting answers.
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