Deg r e es of W an tin g t o Do So met hin g
The abbreviation “v” stands for the base form of a verb. It might be the start of a Verb-Phrase.
Add “to v” at the end of each item for which I didn’t print any form of the final verb, i.e., the v (or
VP) that denotes the action that sb wants/doesn’t want to do; so, “need” = need to v/VP.
All occurrences of “would” that aren’t negative occur also as “ ’d.” And that contracted form is more
common than the uncontracted form.
* = formal and rare
want
would like
would love
hope
be [dearly] hoping
dearly hope
wish *
desire *
be desirous of v-ing *
be more than willing
would gladly
be into v-ing
---------------------------------feel like v-ing
be in the/a mood
be up for v-ing
fancy v-ing (British)
have a mind
aim
intend
plan
be thinking of v-ing
---------------------------------[would] be interested in v-ing
[would] be happy
[would] be glad
---------------------------------be pleased *
would be only too pleased*
would be delighted
would be privileged
would be honored
---------------------------------lean toward v-ing
be inclined (slightly formal)
would be inclined (slightly
formal)
be disposed *
---------------------------------prefer
prefer v-ing
would rather v
would sooner v
would just as soon v
---------------------------------be for v-ing
be in favor of v-ing
like the idea of v-ing
would be up for v-ing
---------------------------------would be pleased
[would] be willing
be ready
be prepared
could v
would v
might v
could see v-ing
could go for v-ing
would consider v-ing
[would] be open to v-ing
could stand v-ing
would go along with v-ing
could go along with v-ing
[would] agree
would be amenable to v-ing *
be game
be game for v-ing
---------------------------------wouldn't mind v-ing
be not against v-ing
wouldn't object to v-ing
be not averse *
would not be averse *
wouldn't be averse *
wouldn't turn down an
invitation
wouldn't turn down an offer
wouldn't pass up an offer
wouldn't pass up a chance
wouldn't hesitate
---------------------------------be/feel neutral about/ toward
v-ing
(All the rest of this group’s
expressions usually lean
toward not wanting, though
literally neutral.)
be/feel lukewarm about v-ing
have mixed feelings about ving
be/feel ambivalent about ving
be not sure about v-ing
feel unsure about v-ing
be/feel uncertain about v-ing
be not sure ONE wants
be not sure whether ONE
wants
don't know about v-ing
---------------------------------don't want
wouldn't want
wouldn't like
don't feel like v-ing
be not in the mood
be not in a mood
be not up to v-ing
be not into v-ing
be not in any rush
be not wild about v-ing
be not crazy about v-ing
be not so hot about v-ing
---------------------------------refuse
won't v
be not going
be not about
be not willing
I’ll pass on v-ing (The subject
is always “I.”)
draw the line at v-ing
won't have anything to do
with v-ing
I'll be damned if I v. (The
subject is almost always "I" in
both clauses.)
---------------------------------wouldn't v
would hate
be not interested in v-ing
be against v-ing
---------------------------------wouldn't/don't care
be not inclined (slightly
formal)
would be disinclined (slightly
formal)
be not disposed *
would hate to have
be loath *
---------------------------------[would] prefer not
would rather not v
would just as soon not v
Sbj would just as soon not.
prefer (Next v isn’t the
suggested act's verb)
prefer v-ing (Ditto)
would rather v (Ditto)
would sooner v (Ditto)
would just as soon v (Ditto)
hesitate
[would] be hesitant
be/feel reluctant
would be reluctant
be cool toward v-ing *
---------------------------------really don’t want
seriously don’t want
would never v
be set against v-ing
be dead set against v-ing
wouldn't v in a million years
wouldn't v if you paid ONE
wouldn't v if you paid ONE a
million dollars
wouldn’t v for all the world
wouldn't v if ONE’S life
depended on it
wouldn't be caught dead v-ing
would die before ONE would
v
would die before ONE v-ed
would die before ONE v
wouldn't have anything to do
with v-ing
---------------------------------Wild horses couldn't make sb
v. (The person is almost
always “me.”)
(The subject is almost always
"I" in the following four
sentences.)
I would rather/sooner die than
than v.
I would rather/sooner go
through labor than v.
I wouldn't v for all the tea in
China.
I wouldn't [marry him/ go out
with him/v with him] if he
were the last man on Earth.
---------------------------------really want
would really like
must v
have
've got
need
just have
've just got
can’t wait
be dying
would do anything
would do anything to be able
would give anything
would give anything to be
able
want to v more than anything
want to v more than anything
in the world
want to v with all ONE'S heart
and soul *
would give ONE'S right arm
have ONE'S heart set on v-ing
would die
would kill
would sell one’s soul
would be tickled pink
I'm going to v if it's the last
thing I do. (The 2 clauses’
subjects are always the same
person and almost always
"I.")
yearn *
be yearning
long *
be longing
be itching
be burning
be aching
be hurting
be spoiling
be keen
be hot
be anxious
be desperate
be eager
Where this file (that you are reading) comes from:
http://classes.berklee.edu/dmaisel/After%20ESL-1/academic%20reference/lists%20of%20related%20verbs/want
or not want to do it.full.doc
Password: read
User Name: After ESL-1
Categories for Sorting the List’s Items
These categories were the basis for almost all of the border lines that were drawn in
the above list.
WANT TO Verb:
Temporary
W hen the W anting subject might not be t he only Doing subject
Hyper bolic
Intense
Moderate
Mature/Formal
Mild
APPROXIM ATELY NEUTR AL:
Ver y mild want ing (almost neutral)
Negative of the opposite; so, closer to wanting than to not wanting
Neutral
Complying
DON’ T W ANT TO Verb:
Ref using
In a comparison with how much doing so mething else is want ed
Hinting
Mild
Mature/Formal
Moderate
Intense
Hyper bolic
“Badl y”
The following verbs are commonly modified by the adverb “badly,” in which “bad” doesn’t mean
the opposite of “good.” Here, this adverb intensifies the urgency of the wanting.
The placement of “badly” in a sentence is shown in the following examples.
WANT
I want to v badly. / I badly want to v. / I want badly to v.
NEED
I need to v badly. / I badly need to v. / I need badly to v.
HAVE
I have to v badly.
'VE GOT
I've got to v badly.
'VE GOTTA V
I've gotta v badly.
GOTTA V
I gotta v badly.
YEARN
I yearn to v badly. / I yearn badly to v.
BE YEARNING
I'm yearning to v badly. / I'm yearning badly to v.
LONG
I long to v badly. / I long badly to v.
BE LONGING
I'm longing to v badly. / I'm longing badly to v.
BE ITCHING
I'm itching to v badly. / I'm itching badly to v.
BE ACHING
I'm aching to v badly. / I'm aching badly to v.
“In the w orst w ay”
All the verbs in the above list of verbs that are modified by “badly” are also modified by “in the
worst way,” which intensifies the urgency of the wanting more intensely than “badly” does. It means
“desperately.” Its register is colloquial.
Its placement in a sentence is the same as for “badly” except that it rarely goes between the
subject and “want” or “need.” Like “badly,” it usually goes at the end of the Verb Phrase that is the
complement of the listed verb.
Neutral
(but not listed because it doesn't include the final verb):
Sbj could take it or leave it.