j'aimerais y aller
In French, "I would like to go" is expressed as j'aimerais y aller.
This phrase is a polite way to express a specific desire or wish to visit a certain place.
Which one should you use?
Use j'aimerais y aller to express a specific wish or desire. This differs from j'aime aller, which expresses a general habit or preference (meaning "I like to go").
How does it change in a sentence?
The word y in this phrase is a pronoun that replaces a previously mentioned place, acting as the "there" in the English phrase "go there".
Did you know?
- The pronoun y used to mean 'there' stems from the Latin word 'hīc', which actually means 'here'. It is a linguistic curiosity that a word meaning 'here' evolved to function as 'there' in French.
- While j'aimerais y aller is polite, using the present tense je veux y aller can be perceived as an aggressive demand in a service setting.
Examples in context
- J'aimerais y aller mais je n'ai pas de voiture.I would like to go, but I don't have a car.This sentence is useful for illustrating how to express a desire to go somewhere while providing a reason for why you cannot (using j'aimerais y aller).Tatoeba #1391720 by ag74, translation #1126673 by CK
- Je voudrais aller à Paris.I would like to go to Paris.
- J'aimerais me rendre à la plage.I would like to go to the beach.
- J'aimerais aller voir un film.I would like to go see a movie.
- C'est un beau jardin, j'aimerais y aller plus souvent.It is a beautiful garden, I would like to go there more often.
- Si c'est ouvert, j'aimerais y aller demain.If it is open, I would like to go there tomorrow.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Emma are talking about a new museum in the city.
- GabrielCe musée a l'air incroyable, j'aimerais y aller avec toi.This museum looks incredible, I would like to go there with you.
- EmmaC'est une excellente idée, Gabriel.That is an excellent idea, Gabriel.
- GabrielEst-ce que tu es libre samedi prochain ?Are you free next Saturday?
- EmmaOui, je suis libre, allons-y !Yes, I am free, let's go!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aller, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
