norėčiau
Polite Wishes with Norėčiau
Noriu means I want. Norėčiau means I would like, and it sounds more polite: Norėčiau kavos. (I would like a coffee.) Norėčiau paklausti. (I would like to ask.)
How It Works
The forms
- aš norėčiau
- tu norėtum (norėtumei)
- jis, ji, jie, jos norėtų
- mes norėtume (norėtumėme)
- jūs norėtumėte (norėtute)
The full pattern for all verbs is in The Conditional Mood.
With things and actions
- A thing goes in the genitive: Norėčiau kavos. Norėčiau vandens. See Wanting Things With Norėti.
- An action is an infinitive: Norėčiau užsisakyti staliuką. See Want, Can and Know How With an Infinitive.
Offering and asking
Ar norėtumėte arbatos? (Would you like some tea?) is a polite offer. To ask someone to do something, use Ar galėtumėte ...? See Polite Requests With the Conditional.
Where you hear it
In cafés, shops and offices, norėčiau is the usual way to ask for something. Noriu is fine with friends but can sound blunt to a stranger.
Examples (6)
- Norėčiau kavos.
I would like a coffee.
Word by Word: I-would-like coffee.
The thing you want goes in the genitive: kavos.
- Norėčiau paklausti.
I would like to ask something.
Word by Word: I-would-like to-ask.
- Ar norėtumėte arbatos?
Would you like some tea?
Word by Word: Q you-would-like tea?
- Norėčiau užsisakyti staliuką dviem.
I would like to book a table for two.
Word by Word: I-would-like to-book table for-two.
- Norėčiau sumokėti kortele.
I would like to pay by card.
Word by Word: I-would-like to-pay with-card.
- Ką norėtum veikti savaitgalį?
What would you like to do at the weekend?
Word by Word: What you-would-like to-do weekend?
Common Mistakes
Putting the thing you want in the accusative.
Norėčiau kavą.Norėčiau kavos.Norėti takes the genitive for things, so kava becomes kavos.
Using the third-person form with aš.
Aš norėtų arbatos.Aš norėčiau arbatos.Norėtų is for he, she and they. With aš, the form is norėčiau.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Norėčiau softens a wish while keeping the complement patterns of norėti.
Related Patterns
- Conditional: -čiau, -tum, -tųThe Conditional Mood
Norėčiau is one form of the conditional mood, which every verb has.
Level 4 - ar galėtumėtePolite Requests with the Conditional
Another polite conditional, used to ask someone to do something.
Level 3 - prašau / prašomPlease and You Are Welcome
Another polite way to ask for things in shops and cafés.
Level 1 - kad + conditionalPurpose and Requests with Kad
To say you would like someone else to do something, use norėčiau, kad with the conditional.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice norėčiau in Bubblegum
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