ABSTRACT
Expressions for wanting to do something wanting something wanting someone else to do something are among the most indispensable in any language. In Russian the verb most commonly used to express want or desire is хотеть ‘to want, wish’. If the speaker wishes to say that he or she wants to do something, then that desired activity is expressed in the infinitive:
Я хочу спать. (imperfective)
‘I want to sleep.’
Ты хочешь играть в футбол? (imperfective)
‘Do you want to play football?’
Они хотят пойти домой. (perfective)
‘They want to go home.’
Она хочет сказать ещё два слова. (perfective)
‘She wants to say a few more words.’
