רוצה + Infinitive

Wanting to Do Something

Level 2

רוצה plus an infinitive says what the subject wants to do. Use the correct gender and number for wants; the following infinitive stays unchanged.

How It Works

One Subject, Two Jobs

אני רוצה ללמוד says I want to study. רוצה expresses the wish and agrees with the person; ללמוד names the desired action. Do not change ללמוד to a present verb merely because the subject is female or plural.

A Different Subject

For wanting someone else to act, use a clause: אני רוצה שדנה תבוא, I want Dana to come. That is a different structure from אני רוצה לבוא, I want to come myself.

A Thing Instead

רוצה can also take a noun: אני רוצה קפה. This entry focuses on actions. A negative before רוצה denies the wish: אני לא רוצה ללכת. It does not mean I want not to go in every context.

Examples (4)

  1. אני רוצה ללמוד עברית.

    I want to learn Hebrew.

    The speaker also does the learning.

  2. היא רוצה ללכת הביתה.

    She wants to go home.

    ללכת stays an infinitive.

  3. הם רוצים לקרוא.

    They want to read.

    רוצים agrees with the group.

  4. אנחנו לא רוצות לצאת.

    We do not want to go out.

    The female group uses רוצות.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting a present verb where the infinitive is needed.

    היא רוצה הולכת הביתה.
    היא רוצה ללכת הביתה.

    The desired action is expressed by ללכת, not הולכת.

How It Connects

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

רוצה + InfinitiveLevel 2Wanting to Do Something

Learn This First

An agreeing want verb introduces an infinitive activity.