Wanting Someone Else to Act: želim da

Wanting Someone Else to Act

Level 4

Use da plus the present when the subject of the second verb is a different person.

How It Works

With one subject, the infinitive works: Želim doći. (I want to come.) When the second verb belongs to someone else, use da and a present form that matches that someone.

MeaningSentence
I want you to come.Želim da dođeš.
Mum asks me to tidy the room.Mama traži da pospremim sobu.
Tell him to come.Reci mu da dođe.

The same pattern works after hoću, tražim, molim, kažem, predlažem.

Spoken Bosnian also uses da with the same subject: Želim da dođem. Both are fine for one subject.

The verb after da is in the present, but it can point to the future: Želim da dođeš sutra. A negative goes in front of the verb: Želim da ne ostaneš sama.

Examples (4)

  1. Želim da dođeš.

    I want you to come.

    Two subjects need da.

  2. Mama traži da pospremim sobu.

    Mum asks me to tidy my room.

    Da plus the present pospremim.

  3. Reci Lejli da nazove.

    Tell Lejla to call.

    Da nazove matches Lejla.

  4. Ajla hoće da joj pročitam priču.

    Ajla wants me to read her a story.

    Different subjects: Ajla and I.

Common Mistakes

  • Learners leave out da.

    Želim ti dođeš.
    Želim da dođeš.

    Da must join the two verbs.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Wanting Someone Else to Act: želim daLevel 4Wanting Someone Else to Act

Learn This First

Želim da takes a present clause.

Words in This Pattern

željetidatražiti