velim, nolim, malim (Polite Wishes)

I Would Like: Velim

Level 5

I would like, I would not like, I would rather: then a subjunctive.

How It Works

LatinEnglish
Velim hoc legas.I would like you to read this.
Nolim hoc dicas.I would not like you to say this.
Malim venias.I would rather you came.
Vellem adesses.I wish you were here.

The imperfect forms vellem, nollem and mallem wish for something that is not so. Vellem adesses means that you are not here.

These forms soften a request: Velim hoc legas is gentler than the command Lege (Read this). Latin leaves out the word for you, because the ending -as already says it: Velim venias (I would like you to come).

Examples (5)

  1. Velim hoc legas.

    I would like you to read this.

    Velim is the polite present subjunctive of volo, and legas follows it without ut.

  2. Nolim hoc dicas.

    I would not like you to say this.

    Nolim is the polite negative. The second verb dicas is subjunctive.

  3. Malim venias.

    I would rather you came.

    Malim means I would rather, and venias is the present subjunctive.

  4. Velim mihi dicas ubi sit ecclesia.

    I would like you to tell me where the church is.

    Dicas follows velim, and sit is the subjunctive of a reported question.

  5. Vellem adesses.

    I wish you were here.

    The imperfect vellem wishes for something that is not true now. Adesses is the imperfect subjunctive.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the second verb in the indicative.

    Velim hoc legis.
    Velim hoc legas.

    The second verb after velim is subjunctive. Legis is the plain indicative and does not fit the wish.

How It Connects

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

velim, nolim, malim (Polite Wishes)Level 5I Would Like: Velim

Learn This First

These are the subjunctive forms of volo, nolo and malo.

Words in This Pattern

volonolomalo