rád by som

I Would Like to: Rád by Som

Level 3

Rád by som with the l-form of a verb expresses a wish: Rád by som ťa videl (I'd like to see you), Rada by som išla do Tatier (I'd like to go to the Tatras).

How It Works

The pattern. Take rád with a verb and put the verb in the conditional:

  • Rád čítam. I like reading. → Rád by som čítal. I'd like to read.

Two words agree. Rád and the l-form both match the subject:

  • man: rád by som išiel
  • woman: rada by som išla
  • men or a mixed group: radi by sme išli
  • women only: rady by sme išli

Compare chcel by som. Chcel by som is followed by an infinitive: Chcel by som ísť. Rád by som is followed by an l-form: Rád by som išiel. Both mean I'd like to go; rád adds the sense of gladly.

Polite phrases. Rád by som vedel … (I'd like to know …) and Nerád by som vás rušil. (I wouldn't want to disturb you.) are common and friendly. Ne- joins rád: nerád, nerada.

Examples (6)

  1. Rád by som ťa videl.

    I'd like to see you.

    Word by Word: Gladly would I-am you seen.

    A male speaker.

  2. Rada by som išla do Tatier.

    I'd like to go to the Tatras.

    Word by Word: Gladly(f) would I-am gone(f) to Tatras.

    A female speaker: both rada and išla are feminine.

  3. Radi by sme prišli, ale nemôžeme.

    We'd love to come, but we can't.

    Word by Word: Gladly(pl) would we-are come(pl), but not-we-can.

  4. Rád by som vedel, kde je stanica.

    I'd like to know where the station is.

    Word by Word: Gladly would I-am known, where is station.

  5. Nerád by som vás rušil.

    I wouldn't want to disturb you.

    Word by Word: Not-gladly would I-am you disturbed.

  6. Rada by som sa naučila po slovensky.

    I'd like to learn Slovak.

    Word by Word: Gladly(f) would I-am self learned(f) Slovak-ly.

Common Mistakes

  • Using an infinitive instead of the l-form.

    Rád by som ísť do Tatier.
    Rád by som išiel do Tatier.

    After rád by som the verb is an l-form: išiel, išla. The infinitive belongs with chcel by som: Chcel by som ísť.

  • Leaving rád masculine for a female speaker.

    Eva: „Rád by som išla s tebou.“
    Eva: „Rada by som išla s tebou.“

    Rád agrees with the speaker too, so a woman says rada by som.

How It Connects

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

rád by somLevel 3I Would Like to: Rád by Som

Learn This First

Before I Would Like To: rád by som, learn Polite Requests: chcel by som and Liking to Do Something. rád by som follows the same pattern as chcel by som. It builds on rád + verb.

Words in This Pattern