Infinitive + چاہنا

Wanting to Do Something

Level 2

Name the desired activity before the wanting verb.

How It Works

In the present pattern taught here, a female speaker can say میں رکنا چاہتی ہوں. The infinitive رکنا does not become رکنی merely because the speaker is feminine.

A negative can deny the wish: نہیں جانا چاہتا or جانا نہیں چاہتا can mean does not want to go, with focus depending on placement.

Keep چاہنا separate from چاہیے. Wanting to act is different from needing an item or being advised to act. A wish for someone else’s action usually needs a different clause structure.

Examples (4)

  1. مریم باہر جانا چاہتی ہے۔

    Maryam wants to go outside.

    چاہتی agrees with Maryam; جانا names the action.

  2. میں ابھی رکنا چاہتا ہوں۔

    I want to stop now.

    The speaker uses masculine agreement.

  3. ہم یہ خط پڑھنا چاہتے ہیں۔

    We want to read this letter.

    The group controls چاہتے ہیں.

  4. آپ کیا سیکھنا چاہتے ہیں؟

    What do you want to learn?

    Respectful masculine or mixed reference takes چاہتے ہیں.

Common Mistakes

  • Changing the infinitive to match a feminine subject.

    مریم باہر جانی چاہتی ہے۔
    مریم باہر جانا چاہتی ہے۔

    Use جانا here; agreement with Maryam is carried by چاہتی.

How It Connects

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

Infinitive + چاہناLevel 2Wanting to Do Something

Learn This First

Choose the appropriate form of the wanting verb.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

چاہنا