Vouloir in the past tense

Janice D.C1Kwiziq community member

Vouloir in the past tense

Hello, if the use of vouloir in the past tense is closer to tried, how do you say « i wanted to... » ? There is a reasonable difference between meanings in English e.g. i wanted to go shopping and I tried to go shopping...

Asked 4 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

You would use the imparfait:

Je voulais faire les courses. -- I wanted to go shopping.

CélineKwiziq team member

Bonjour Janice,

Chris is right.

Vouloir (Imparfait) : je voulais faire les coursesI wanted to go shopping

Vouloir (Passé-Composé) : j'ai voulu faire les coursesI tried to go shopping

Bonne journée!

Vouloir in the past tense

Hello, if the use of vouloir in the past tense is closer to tried, how do you say « i wanted to... » ? There is a reasonable difference between meanings in English e.g. i wanted to go shopping and I tried to go shopping...

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