vouloir

The French verb “vouloir” is a very important and frequently used verb. It means “to want.” It is often used with other verbs, eg “to want to do.” As such, it is described as an auxiliary verb, or helper verb, because it is useful when combined with other French verbs.

Below are the conjugations for the French verb “vouloir” in the present tense, future simple, present conditional, and passé composé, along with examples for each tense.

Present Tense Conjugation:

  • Je veux
  • Tu veux
  • Il/Elle/On veut
  • Nous voulons
  • Vous voulez
  • Ils/Elles veulent

Examples in Present Tense:

  1. Je veux manger une pizza ce soir. (I want to eat a pizza tonight.)
  2. Tu veux venir avec nous au cinéma? (Do you want to come with us to the cinema?)
  3. Il veut apprendre le français. (He wants to learn French.)
  4. Nous voulons acheter une nouvelle voiture. (We want to buy a new car.)
  5. Vous voulez du café? (Do you want some coffee?)
  6. Elles veulent visiter Paris cet été. (They want to visit Paris this summer.)

Future Simple Conjugation:

  • Je voudrai
  • Tu voudras
  • Il/Elle/On voudra
  • Nous voudrons
  • Vous voudrez
  • Ils/Elles voudront

Examples in Future Simple:

  1. Je voudrai voyager autour du monde. (I will want to travel around the world.)
  2. Tu voudras apprendre à jouer de la guitare. (You will want to learn to play the guitar.)
  3. Elle voudra essayer ce nouveau restaurant. (She will want to try this new restaurant.)
  4. Nous voudrons acheter une maison à la campagne. (We will want to buy a house in the countryside.)
  5. Vous voudrez voir ce film. (You will want to see this movie.)
  6. Ils voudront participer à la compétition. (They will want to participate in the competition.)

Present Conditional Conjugation:

  • Je voudrais
  • Tu voudrais
  • Il/Elle/On voudrait
  • Nous voudrions
  • Vous voudriez
  • Ils/Elles voudraient

Examples in Present Conditional:

  1. Je voudrais un café, s’il vous plaît. (I would like a coffee, please.)
  2. Tu voudrais venir avec nous? (Would you like to come with us?)
  3. Il voudrait savoir la vérité. (He would like to know the truth.)
  4. Nous voudrions réserver une table pour deux. (We would like to reserve a table for two.)
  5. Vous voudriez essayer cette robe? (Would you like to try on this dress?)
  6. Elles voudraient visiter le musée. (They would like to visit the museum.)

Passé Composé Conjugation:

  • J’ai voulu
  • Tu as voulu
  • Il/Elle/On a voulu
  • Nous avons voulu
  • Vous avez voulu
  • Ils/Elles ont voulu

Examples in Passé Composé:

  1. J’ai voulu apprendre à cuisiner. (I wanted to learn how to cook.)
  2. Tu as voulu aller à la plage hier. (You wanted to go to the beach yesterday.)
  3. Il a voulu parler avec le directeur. (He wanted to speak with the director.)
  4. Nous avons voulu organiser une fête. (We wanted to organize a party.)
  5. Vous avez voulu acheter ce livre. (You wanted to buy this book.)
  6. Elles ont voulu voir la tour Eiffel. (They wanted to see the Eiffel Tower.)

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