Polite Ways to Say "I Want" in English | Sound More Natural and Fluent in English

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When I started the Stop saying series

and every other YouTube teacher copied it,

they all said, this word sounds wrong

and it sounds horrible.

The words aren't wrong, Okay?

Those guys are just trying to get

your clicks and your views. Don't listen to them.

The point is, we just need to be careful

sometimes with those words.

Maybe the context, the tone,

maybe it might sound rude in certain situations.

"I want" can sound in English,

demanding or entitled,

and you don't want to sound entitled.

The main thing is it can sound rude.

So, let's look at some different ways

that you can say I want.

Okay, you're in a coffee shop, a restaurant, a shop,

and you want something.

Here's a nice, polite way to say that.

A really nice, polite way of saying

"I want this" is," sorry could I get,

or "sorry, can I have,"

you can choose a load of different options here,

The sorry, that's an option.

It's a bit more British.

We apologize for everything. Don't know why.

Probably because we have a terrible history.

But you have options.

Could I, sounds a bit more polite than

can I.

Just does.

Have or get, different verbs, same meaning.

So an option. "Sorry, can I get a coffee?"

"Sorry, Could I have a carrot cake?

The whole cake? Thanks."

You can use this structure,

not just to receive something physical.

You can use it to ask details about a person,

for example. "Sorry. Can I get your Instagram?"

"Yeah, of course. It's @papateachme."

But if someone offers to get something for you,

what could you say then?

"Can I get you anything?" it's an offer.

How could you say,

"I want" as a response to an offer?

Starting with the obvious. "I'd love a coffee"

or "I would like a coffee."

Did you hear how I set those different?

There's a reason for that.

For me personally, obviously

my opinion isn't the same as everyone who speaks English.

But in my opinion, it feels more natural to use.

I'd like, I would like.

In a restaurant or a coffee shop in response to a waiter,

whereas, I would use,

"Oh, I'd love a coffee."

Responding to a friend,

offering me something at their house.

For example, why

This one sounds a bit more formal.

This one, there's a bit more emotion.

It sounds more friendly.

"Oh, I wouldn't mind a coffee if that's okay."

The, "If that's okay."

Of course that's an option. It sounds a bit more polite.

A bit more British.

When you say "I wouldn't mind"

or "I don't mind."

Literally, it means

it's not a problem

or it wouldn't be a problem for me.

For example.

"Sorry, would you mind if I smoked?"

"No, I wouldn't mind."

I wouldn't mind. It's not a problem,

but you can't use the exact same thing

when you want something.

"Ooh, wouldn't mind a pineapple juice right now."

You want a thing.

But also, if you want to do something,

if you use this with a verb,

make sure the verb is that ing form.

For example.

"So it looks like the party's finished.

What do you want to do now?"

- "I don't know.

I wouldn't mind eating a Kebab"

- Actually I would mind going home,

pretty tired night.

That verb, in the ing form.

"I wouldn't mind eating."

"I wouldn't mind going."

Another possibility is "I could go for"

Again it just means "I want.

"Oh, are you paying? You're paying."

"Okay. Um, I can go for a latte"

and you could use this when you want to suggest something.

For example. "You alright? What you doing?

Yeah I could go for a pizza, what about you?"

In that context,

It's a really good way to suggest something.

You know, when you're not doing anything

and then suddenly,

a thought about food or drink or something

just comes to your head randomly.

And you're like,

Oh, Oh, I want this thing. I want it right now.

I could do with

Now, this could be used to say,

I want, or I need, or something is necessary.

But yeah, usually just when you want something.

Right? So, you could say

"I'm feeling a bit sad I could do with some chocolate."

But also yes, it could be used for something is necessary.

For example

"my room right now, is very messy

and I'm not going to show you,

but it could do with a clean,

my mom might say to me,"

"wow, your room could really do with a clean."

Yeah, I know it's weird,

but you're learning English.

You already know that English is weird.

I fancy. Yes It means I want

Way more British than American English,

but don't worry, they understand.

You could use it like this.

"I really fancy a pizza"

but we could also use a fancy for people

who we just feel like (Laughing)

"I really fancy you." "I want you."

"I'm in the mood for"

That's your feeling at the moment.

For example,

"it's so hot today."

I'm in the mood for a cold shower and some sleep.

Now again, all of these expressions

basically mean I want blah, blah, blah.

But yeah, they can have other meanings too.

Same for this one. Ooh.

"I feel like a pizza."

I want a pizza

But also it could mean that you think you are something.

For example, "I feel stupid." "I feel like an idiot."

So usually in English,

if you said something like,

"I feel like a pizza"

Everyone's parents will say this.

"Yeah. You look like one too."

Every time, every time important to remember

with these expressions,

if you want to do something,

use the ing form.

I could do with, going out.

"I fancy staying in tonight."

"I'm in the mood for watching a movie."

"I feel like having a barbecue today."

This next expression is very, very polite.

It's really good.

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"Oh, sorry.

Is there any chance I can get some water please?"

Or "is there any chance I could have some water?"

You would use this structure

when you don't want to sound rude or demanding.

It's very indirect. It's very informal.

It's really good.

Similar to this.

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"Sorry. I don't suppose I could get some

butter for my coffee, could I?"

I heard that some people do that.

Commonly, Yes.

You'll use this with a question tag.

I don't suppose I could get blah, blah, blah.

Could I? that's a question tag.

Don't worry if you don't understand question tags,

click that and you'll see a full explanation.

But yeah, you would use these structures

when, for example, you're at someone's house,

You want to ask for something or something extra

and you don't want to sound rude or demanding.

And finally, a really strong way to say, I want.

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To be dying for or to something

you wanted so much, it causes you pain.

For example, this is me and this is any of my friends.

I want to see this new Spiderman movie

so much that it hurts me.

So I will say I'm dying to see the new Spiderman movie.

But, that's a verb.

If I want a thing

I'll use for.

"I'm dying for a carrot cake."

But also you can use this when you're really in pain.

For example, "can you get out of the toilet, please?

I'm dying to pee."

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To be craving something

or I've got a craving for something.

This is when you want something right now,

but this is more just for the moment.

Probably later, you'll forget about it.

And usually it's something weird.

You know, when pregnant women want something strange

like cucumber with, I don't,

jam and peanut butter.

And actually that sounds good.

But anyway, some thought of food or drink hits you.

And you're like, "I don't know why.

I just, I want this"

"I'm craving sugar."

"I've got a craving for cucumber dipped in pineapple juice."

I don't know why.

And finally, I've got a hankering for something.

You will say this one in a happy jokey way.

Not in a serious way.

It's just something quick that you want,

that you really crave right now.

I don't know about you,

but I've got a hankering for some pizza

with pineapple on it.

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