The verbs querer (to want), esperar (to hope), and desear (to desire) are commonly used to discuss wishes, hopes, and fantasies.
Quiero que... - I want that... Espero que... - I hope that... Deseo que... - I desire that...
When a sentences starts with one of these verbs, and the subject of the sentences changes after que, then the verb that follows que must be in the subjunctive mood.
Yo quiero que Juan me ayude a limpiar la casa.
I want John to help me clean the house.
Yo espero que a tí te guste la música.
I hope that you like the music.
Yo espero que Juan los traiga.
I hope that John brings them.
Yo espero que tú puedas estudiar conmigo.
I hope that you can study with me.
Yo deseo que conozcas a mis padres.
I want you to meet my parents.
The word ojalá (would to God, I hope, I wish) is used like a verb in the present subjunctive to express wishes and hopes.
Ojalá que ya no necesite la operación tu mamá.
I hope that your mom does not need the operation.
Note: Although The use of subjunctive is required, the use of que is optional.
¡Ojalá tengas tiempo!
Hope you have time!
¡Ojalá vaya a verlo!
Hope I am going to see it!
¡Ojalá nos contesten rápido!
I hope they answer us fast.
Use Basic Vocabulary
There are many ways to express wishes in Spanish. Three common phrases are shown in the following examples:
Quisiera estar en algún país del mediterráneo.
I wish I were in a Mediterranean country. / I would like to be in a...
Ojalá fuera viernes.
I wish it were Friday.
Es tu cumpleaños, tienes que pedir un deseo.
It's your birthday; you have to wish for something.
A very similar idea is "I would have liked to..." which can be expressed in Spanish in several different ways:
Me hubiera gustado haber crecido en el campo.
I would have liked to have grown up in the country.
Me habr’a gustado vivir al lado del mar.
I would have liked to live next to the sea.
Me gustaría haber crecido en una familia culturalmente mixta.
I would like to have grown up in a culturally mixed family.
The first example uses the following formula: Indirect object pronoun + hubiera + gustado + haber + past participle
The second example uses this formula: Indirect object pronoun + habría + gustado + verb in infinitive form
The third example uses the following formula: Indirect object pronoun + gustaría + haber + past participle
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