想,要,和能 (xiang3, yao4, neng2)

These three are auxiliary verbs used to express a want, an ability or a need to do something. They are usually used before verbs and cannot be used directly before nouns or pronouns.

If the auxiliary verb is used to ask a question, one can answer said question by repeating back the auxiliary verb.

Be careful with 要, though. It is negated not by putting 不 in front of it, but instead by saying 不想.

Examples:

我想去看电影。 → I want to go watch a movie.

我要复习汉语。 → I have to revise Chinese.

我能来上课。 → I can come to class.

Remember：

想 (xiang3) indicates a want. It isn’t forced and considered polite.

要 (yao4) indicates a need. One feels forced to do it and it is less polite.

能 (neng2) indicates ability. One isn’t forced to do it, but is able to.

想

If you recall from chapter 13, we went over 想 there as well. In the context with chapter 13, it meant “to miss (someone)”. Additionally, we learned it’s function as “to think about (something)”. Now, we have a new function in the sentence, as well as a new meaning. In our first two instances, 想 would have been the verb, but in our new context, it is the auxiliary verb. It means “to want (something)”.

It stands before another verb and cannot stand before a noun or a pronoun.

Otherwise, it will mean something completely different!

Example sentence:

今天我想去逛公园。 → Today, I want to go take a walk in the park.