Saying What You Want in Spanish - Exercises

Practice using quiero "I want" vs. me gustaría "I would like"

Lesson Transcript

Choose the best answer to complete the sentence. Ready?

Me (pause with a tap of the finger) un gato negro.

gustaría

Me gustaría un gato negro.

"I would like a black cat."

We use gustaría in this sentence because gato is a singular noun, and gustaría is used to express a polite or less direct desire for a singular item.

Choose the best answer to complete the sentence. Ready?

Me (pause with a tap of the finger) unas galletas.

gustarían

Me gustarían unas galletas.

"I'd like some cookies."

Gustarían is used here because galletas is a plural noun, and the things being desired are plural.

Choose the best answer to complete the sentence. Ready?

Me (pause with a tap of the finger) un coche rápido.

gustaría

Me gustaría un coche rápido.

"I would like a fast car."

Gustaría is used here to be polite and because coche is just one thing.

Unscramble the words to make a sentence.

Ready?

Quiero

Quiero libros

Quiero libros con

Quiero libros con muchos

Quiero libros con muchos colores.

"I want books with many colors."

Quiero libros con muchos colores.

Choose the best answer to complete the sentence. Ready?

Me (gustaría or gustarían) tacos para cenar.

gustarían

Me gustarían tacos para cenar.

"I would like tacos for dinner."

Gustarían is used here because tacos is a plural noun, and gustarían is the conditional form used when the things being desired are plural.

Choose the best answer to complete the sentence. Ready?

Me (gustaría or gustarían) un plátano dulce.

gustaría

Me gustaría un plátano dulce.

"I would like a sweet banana."

Gustaría is used here because plátano is a singular noun, and gustaría is used when the thing being politely asked for is singular.

Let's translate some sentences into Spanish.

Translate "I want a new bag." into Spanish.

Quiero, "I want"

followed by

una, "a" (The feminine singular form of "a" or "an" in Spanish.)

bolsa, "bag"

followed by

nueva, "new"

We use quiero in this sentence because the verb expresses a direct desire.

Quiero una bolsa nueva.

"I want a new bag."

Translate "I would like a glass of water." into Spanish.

Me gustaría, "I would like"

followed by

un, "a" (The masculine singular form of "a" or "an" in Spanish.)

vaso, "glass"

followed by

de agua, "of water"

Gustaría is used here because we are asking for a singular item, un vaso de agua, which means "a glass of water."

Me gustaría un vaso de agua.

"I would like a glass of water."

Translate "I want red shoes." into Spanish.

Quiero, "I want"

followed by

zapatos, "shoes"

rojos, "red" (The plural and masculine form of the adjective rojo.)

Quiero is used here to express a clear desire on the part of the speaker.

Quiero zapatos rojos.

"I want red shoes."

Listen to me as I speak. Which word that expresses desire is used in the sentences?

Me gustaría un gato negro.

Let's listen one more time.

Me gustaría un gato negro.

Did you hear, gustaría? Qustaría, meaning "would like" is used with singular nouns.

How about...?

Quiero libros con muchos colores.

Let's listen one more time.

Quiero libros con muchos colores.

Did you hear, quiero? Quiero, meaning "I want," is used to express a direct desire.

Next…

Me gustarían tacos para cenar.

One more time.

Me gustarían tacos para cenar.

Did you hear gustarían? Gustarían, meaning "would like" is used with plural nouns.

Next...

Quiero zapatos rojos.

One more time.

Quiero zapatos rojos.

Did you hear, quiero? Quiero, meaning "I want" is used to express a direct desire.

And...

Me gustaría un coche rápido.

One more time.

Me gustaría un coche rápido.

Did you hear gustaría? Gustaría, meaning "I would like," is used to be polite and because it refers to just one thing.

Thank you for watching.

Now you know how to say what you want in Spanish.

...and now you can move on to the next lesson in the pathway.

Nos vemos.

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