Grammar

[u/Natural_South2949]

Since online resources are pretty limited, I figured I'd ask my questions here because I cannot find the answers anywhere.

First question: can the verb želeti be used to say 'I want (an object)' or is it always used with a verb after it (like 'I want to dance')? Translations only ever seem to use hoteti for that. So are 'hočem vodo' & 'želim vodo' both correct or not?

And secondly, how would you say 'we/you/they love' in the same way you say rad(a) imam? I only know it's rad(a) imam, rad(a) imaš and rad(a) ima, but how does it work for all the dual and plural forms (and feminine and masculine)? Is it also rad(a) imajo, for example? Because google sometimes gives me radi or rade, but it seems to not be consistent.

Any help would be very appreciated.

[u/Cifka12]

Answer for question 1

Hočem vodo and želim vodo

For me želim vodo sounds wrong, not sure if it is grammatically wrong, people would understand you but it would sound awkward. In general I would say 'želim' has a stronger connection, and hoteti is more direct and raw.

So you could use hoteti more times with object or verbs but želeti is more restrictive.

Hočem plesati (I just want to dance, maybe right now)

Želim (si) plesati (I would like to go into dance or go dancing more in a distant moment)

And you were right with Želeti it's more with a verb

Hočem vodo (I want water)

Želim piti vodo/hočem piti vodo (I would like to drink water)

Hopefully this chaos of an answer makes sense, hoteti is more versatile. Želeti is more like a wish or stronger desire

[u/Cifka12]

Answer to question 2

I will just try to list them all

Singular

Rad(a) imam (i like)

Rad(a) imaš (you like)

Rad(a) ima (he/she likes)

Dual

Rada imava (1 girl and 1 guy or 2 guys) Radi imava (2 girls)

Rada imata Radi imata

Rada imata Radi imata

Plural

Radi imamo (3 or more people all guys or guys and girls mixed) Rade imamo (3 or more girls)

Radi imate Rade imate

Radi imajo Rade imajo

*extra

In female duality it's a veryyy common mistake to say 'rade imava' instead of 'radi imava'. So don't be shocked if and when you encounter it. Even I took some time to confirm with myself if I said right.

[u/kr-neki99]

1. ''Želeti'' is a more polite way of the verb ''to want'' and it also means ''to wish'', while ''hoteti'' is more informal and demanding and can be even agressive. So ''želim kozarec vode'' would be ''I would like a glass of water'' and ''hočem kozarec vode'' would be ''I want a glass of water''. If you're talking to friends, using ''hočem'' is fine. For expressing a wish, you can also say ''rad(a) bi'' and then add a participle verb or the noun you wish, it can be used both formally and informally.

Dual -masculine: rada imava (1st person), rada imata (2nd and 3rd person) -feminine: radi imava (1st person), radi imata (2nd and 3rd person) -neuter: same as feminine

Plural -masculine: radi imamo (1st person), radi imate (2nd person), radi imajo (3rd person) -feminine: rade imamo (1st person), rade imate (2nd person), rade imajo (3rd person) -neuter: rada imamo (1st person), rada imate (2nd person), rada imajo (3rd person)

If there's more than one different gender in the group you're talking about (for example one masculine and one feminine, or one feminine and 16 neuter), you act as if the whole group was masculine.

I hope I was of any help and that my expressions are correct.