m'agradaria
In Catalan, the phrase "I would like" is expressed as m'agradaria.
The phrase m'agradaria is used as a polite way to express a wish or a desire for something. To make a request even more polite, you can add si us plau at the end, which is equivalent to saying "please" in English.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase m'agradaria is a combination of the indirect object pronoun m' (me) and the conditional form of the verb agradar (to please), meaning "it would please me".
How does it change in a sentence?
Consequently, if the thing you would like is plural, you must use the plural form m'agradarien.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use jo voldria to translate "I would like" (literally "I would want"), but m'agradaria is the more natural and common way to express a polite desire in Catalan.
Did you know?
- The root of agradar is related to the concept of being 'agreeable' or 'pleasant', emphasizing the feeling of satisfaction rather than the act of wanting.
- In Catalan, the verb agradar is classified as a 'psychological verb', which means it describes a state of mind rather than an external action you perform.
- The pronoun m' in m'agradaria acts as a recipient of pleasure, meaning you are grammatically the 'target' of the object's appeal.
Examples in context
- M'agradaria parlar.I would like to talk.This sentence shows how to use m'agradaria to express a desire to talk.Tatoeba #12502055 by Both6546, translation #12502053 by Orange
- M'agradaria tornar el temps enrere per veure com eren els dinosaures.I would like to go back in time to see what the dinosaurs looked like.This sentence uses m'agradaria to express a wish involving traveling back in time.Tatoeba #9811922 by ziggsmith, translation #3625107 by Hybrid
- M'agradaria anar a l'estranger.I would like to go abroad.This sentence uses m'agradaria to express a desire to go abroad.Tatoeba #1529286 by calogero, translation #6921728 by hadawayman
- Voldria un cafè, si us plau.I would like a coffee, please.
- M'agradaria una taula a prop de la finestra.I would like a table by the window.
- Voldria una taula per a tres persones, si us plau.I would like a table for three, please.
- M'agradaria provar-me aquesta samarreta, si us plau.I would like to try on this shirt, please.
- Voldria una habitació individual per a dues nits, si us plau.I would like a single room for two nights, please.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Aleix and Laia are at a restaurant.
- AleixM'agradaria un got d'aigua, si us plau.I would like a glass of water, please.
- LaiaI jo m'agradaria un suc d'orange.And I would like an orange juice.
- AleixT'agradaria compartir un postre després?Would you like to share a dessert afterwards?
- LaiaSí, m'agradaria molt!Yes, I would like that very much!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
