en
cs
da
de
it
plCommon errors concerning 想 and 要
The possible mistakes learners might make when using the modal verbs 想 and 要 can be categorized as follows.
Incorrect position
Learners might place 想 and 要 in the wrong positions, especially in a sentence containing adverbs, prepositional phrases or complicated patterns.
*他们想也去那家书店。
他们也想去那家书店。
*姐姐给她的老师想写信。
姐姐想给她的老师写信。
*弟弟一边想听音乐，一边想看书。
弟弟想一边听音乐，一边看书。
*他們想也去那家書店。
他們也想去那家書店。
*姐姐給她的老師想寫信。
姐姐想給她的老師寫信。
*弟弟一邊想聽音樂，一邊想看書。
弟弟想一邊聽音樂，一邊看書。
Wrong question form
Learners might apply the A-not-A question structure to the main verb and not to the modal verb.
*你想买不买东西？
你想不想买东西？
*你要喝不喝茶？
你要不要喝茶？
*你想買不買東西？
你想不想買東西？
*你要喝不喝茶？
你要不要喝茶？
Omission of the modal verb in a second clause
Learners might forget that in a sequence of two clauses expressing modality, the modal verb must be used in both clauses.
*哥哥想去旅行，我也去。
哥哥想去旅行，我也想去。
*哥哥想去旅行，我也去。
哥哥想去旅行，我也想去。
Use of degree adverbs for the modification of modal verbs
想 can be modified by the degree adverbs 很, 非常, but 要 cannot.
*姐姐很要在图书馆工作。
姐姐很想在图书馆工作。
*我真要认识那个漂亮的女生！
我真想认识那个漂亮的女生！
*姐姐很要在圖書館工作。
姐姐很想在圖書館工作。
*我真要認識那個漂亮的女生！
我真想認識那個漂亮的女生！
Confusion with other usages of 想 and 要
1. The modal verbs 想 and 要 are used before the main verbs. However, since 想 and 要 can also be used as verbs, learners may confuse the usages and form such a sentence:
*我想一杯水。
我想喝一杯水。
我要一杯水。
*我想一杯水。
我想喝一杯水。
我要一杯水。
2. The verbs 想 and 要 can both be translated as ‘want’ in English. However, since the semantic range of ‘want’ is rather broad in English, learners often overlook that 要 has a stronger tone than 想 and use 要 in wrong contexts.
Making a polite request:
*老师，我要去您办公室问您问题，可以吗？
老师，我想去您办公室问您问题，可以吗？
*老師，我要去您辦公室問您問題，可以嗎？
老師，我想去您辦公室問您問題，可以嗎？
Making a less direct refusal:
A：你想不想喝点儿水？
B：*谢谢，我现在不要喝。
谢谢，我现在不想喝。
A：你想不想喝點兒水？
B：*謝謝，我現在不要喝。
謝謝，我現在不想喝。
Errors caused by native transfer
Both 想 and 要 can be translated as ‘want’ in English, but only 要 can stand independently in this meaning, 想 can only serve as a modal verb and requires a semantic verb behind.
*我想一些饺子。
我想吃一些饺子。
我想要一些饺子。(想: modal verb; 要: verb)
我要一些饺子。(要: verb)
*我想一些餃子。
我想吃一些餃子。
我想要一些餃子。(想: modal verb; 要: verb)
我要一些餃子。(要: verb)
A：你想跟我一起去运动吗?
B：*我最近不要运动。
我最近不想运动。
A：你想跟我一起去運動嗎?
B：*我最近不要運動。
我最近不想運動。
Classroom activity
Identify the part of speech and the meaning of 想 and 要 in the L1 of the students and provide example sentences. For example:
- 想 (verb: to think of, to miss)
我正在想这件事/我正在想這件事。
我很想你。 - 要 (verb: to want to HAVE something)
我要一杯茶。
他要那个东西/他要那個東西。
- 想 (modal verb: would like to, want to, intend to)
我想喝一杯茶。
(Using 想 conveys an intention to have a cup of tea, making the request sound milder than 我要喝一杯茶) - 要 (modal verb: want to, desire to; need to, have to)
我要喝一杯茶。
(Expressing a strong desire or need for a cup of tea, making the request more direct than 我想喝一杯茶)
Although not mentioned in every textbook, 想 and 要 can be used together. For example,
我想要一杯茶。
我想要喝一杯茶。
To avoid confusing beginners, simply explain that adding 想 to 我要喝一杯茶 highlights a sense of intention or desire. The combination 想要 makes a request sound milder and more polite.
Design suitable contexts and emphasize the use of 想 in polite expressions.