Hi
I know that commonly either "I would like to" or "I want to" is used. I have been wondering if you could use "I would want to" also? If so, is there a difference in meaning or style?

Yes, "I would want to" is not that uncommon. I often use it when I don't want to commit to something but I want to place a condition on the transaction if I were to accept it.

"Before I even considered/would even consider taking the project, I would want to see the complete list of requirements."

I don't think "I would want to" works in the same way. You could say: "In that situation, I would want to go for a walk" or "If Boris was here, I would want to go for a walk" but you're referring to a hypothetical situation rather than a real, immediate one. If you want to go for a walk now, it has to be "I would like to go for a walk." I'm afraid my knowledge of the mechanics of grammar isn't good enough to explain why that's the case, but I know it sounds wrong.

Thanks a lot for both explanations! They were very helpful and I get it now!

JamesM said:

... I often use it when I don't want to commit to something but I want to place a condition on the transaction if I were to accept it.

"Before I even considered/would even consider taking the project, I would want to see the complete list of requirements."

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Hello,

Can we use ' would like' instead of ' would want' in that situation?

Before I even considered/would even consider taking the project, I would like to see the complete list of requirements.

Thanks.

I would say:


Before I even consider taking the project, I would like to see the complete list of requirements.

So many thanks for the answer.

Could you please tell me if 'would like' is totally wrong in that situation?

''Before I even considered taking the project, I would like to see the complete list of requirements.''

Thanks again!

boggiee said:

'Before I even considered taking the project, I would like to see the complete list of requirements.''

Click to expand...

Unfortunately, this sentence doesn't make sense, so it's not possible: "Would like to" puts the situation in the present, but "considered" puts the situation in the past.

Are you talking about considering the project now, or did you consider the project in the past?

I want to use 'would like' to refer to a hypothetical situation. For example,

What would you like to do if we were on the beach?

Does it sound weird?

boggiee said:

What would you like to do if we were on the beach?

Does it sound weird?

Click to expand...

Not at all weird: that sounds fine to me.