This pattern allows you to express that you wish to do or would like to do something [what is specified by the -고]. The pattern consists of a processive base plus the one-shape ending -고, followed by the descriptive auxiliary verb 싶어요 (base 싶-). Descriptive verbs cannot appear in this pattern.
The pattern in -고 싶어요 can be used in two meanings: 1) I (or we) want or would like and 2) Do you want or Would you like? In other words, it is used for first-person statements and second- person questions. To make questions or statements about third persons (he, she, it, they), you use -고 싶어해요 (base 싶어하-) instead of -고 싶어요.
Note that the base of the auxiliary verb (싶- or 싶어하-) does all the work with past tense and honorifics: 전화를 걸고 싶었어요 wanted to make a phone call, and 새 양복을 입고 싶으세요? Do you want to wear your new suit? Here are some more examples :
14. 새 구두를 신고 싶어요.
I want to wear my new shoes.
15. 새 장갑을 끼고 싶었어요.
I wanted to wear my new gloves.
16. 공부를 잘하고 싶어요?
Do you want to study well [i.e. I do you want to do well in school?].
17. 이 책을 읽고 싶으세요?
Would you like to read this book?
18. 새 집에서 살고 싶어요.
I want to live in a new house.
19. 주말을 재미 있게 보내고 싶었어요.
I wanted to have fun over the weekend(I wanted to spend the weekend enjoyably)
20. 뉴스를 듣고 싶어요.
I want to listen to the news.
The 고- form is a one-shape ending: it is always -고, regardless of the kind of base it is attached to. L-extending vowel bases attach the 고- form (and all other one-shape endings that begin with ㅈ, ㄷ or ㄱ) to the EXTENDED shape (with the ㄹ ): 여-ㄹ- open has the 고- form 열고. In contrast, the CONSONANT bases that end in -ㄹchange this to ㄷ and this is shown in the spelling as well as in the pronunciation, so the 고- form of 들- listens is 듣고, pronounced (by automatic change) 듣꼬. CONSONANT bases that end in -w change the -w to ㅂ, so the gerund of 구w- broils it is 굽고, pronounced (by automatic change) 굽꼬.
Statements in -고 싶어요 are ordinarily used only of one’s own desires; to state other people’s wishes, you use the expression -고 싶어해요. But you can use the simpler form for you when asking a question:
21. 나는 가고 싶어요.
I want to go.
22. 철수씨, 같이 가고 싶어요?
Ch’ŏlsu, do you want to go [with us]?
23. 철수씨는 가고 싶어해요.
Ch’ŏlsu wants to go.
The particle which follows the object of a transitive verb with -고 싶어요 is usually marked as 을/를, but this can sometimes be changed to the particle 이/가, since 싶어요 is an auxiliary descriptive verb meaning it is desired. In this case, marking the object with 이/가 shows that you have a particularly strong feeling or affection for the object:
24. 나는 점심을 먹고 싶어요.
I want to eat lunch.
25. 나는 아이스크림이 먹고 싶어요.
I want to eat ice-cream.
Verbal nouns which act as the object of 하- do not normally take 이/가 here:
*공부가 잘 하고 싶어요.
I want to study well.
Note that the pattern in -고 싶어(해)요 is incompatible with the copula; for I want to be a doctor or the like, you have to use the verb 되- become (the thing you become takes the subject marker 이/가. This is a fact about the verb 되-, not a feature of the pattern -고 싶어(해)요.). Thus:
26. 나는 교수가 되고 싶어요.
I want to be a professor [when I grow up. . .]
Here are some more examples of this construction:
27. 영화를 보러 같이 나가고 싶어요?
Would you like to go out with me to see a movie?
28. 어머니가 보고 싶어요.
I want to see my mother.
29. 물을 마시고 싶어요.
I want to drink (some) water.
30. 여관에 있고 싶어요.
I want to stay in a Korean inn.
31. 어제도 쉬고 싶었어요.
I wanted to rest yesterday, too.
32. 일본말도 배우고 싶어요.
I want to learn Japanese, too.
33. 김선생님은 미국에 가고 싶어하세요?
Does Mr. Kim want to go to the US?
34. 김선생님도 미국에 가고 싶으세요?
Mr. Kim ? do you want to go to the US, too?
35. 친구 만나러 같이 가고 싶어요?
Do you want to go with me to meet my friend?
Finally, note that it is best to avoid negating this pattern in -고 싶어요 with 안 (negating it with 못 is out of the question, as 싶- is a descriptive verb). The negation pattern with 안 preceding the verb sounds best when 안 is followed by a short and succinct verb, and sounds progressively worse as the verb or verb expression being negated gets longer. You will learn another way to negate verbs by placing a negative element after the base in Lesson Twelve.