Want somebody to do something
- B1
1 x 60-minute class
In this lesson, we’ll dive into the structure ‘to want somebody to do something’. Let’s go!
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Warm up
Listen to this song (play it at 1:24) and put the following words in the correct order:
want/stay/to/you
- where is the word ‘to’ positioned?
- where is the pronoun positioned?
- what is that person supposed to do?
Theory - part 1
Exercise 1
Fill in the gaps and watch the clips to check your answers:
- "I … (need/sign/to/you) this form."
"What is it?"
"Nothing, school stuff"
"Later perhaps, if you behave."
"I will if she does.”
- “You know, you guys were a lot more supportive when I wanted to make denim furniture."
"If you decide to do this, we'll be supportive like crazy."
"We just … (to/think/want/you) it through”
- "You want a statement? Here's your statement. I've been working for Margaret Tate for three years. Six months ago we started dating, we fell in love. I … (her/ask/marry/to) me, she said "yes." I'll see you at the wedding.”
- "I … (need/do/you/to) one more drawing for me. It will cheer the captain up. He'll be over the moon.”
- "Do you understand?"
"Yeah, but I think you..."
"Now, school ends at 2:30. I … (you/want/to/go) to the library at 2:33, and study until I pick you up there at 5:30. Understood?”
Exercise 2
Put the words in the right order:
- She wants ... home early. (to/come/her daughter)
- The teacher wants ... by Friday. (complete/to/his students/the assignment)
- The manager wants ... by Monday. (the report/to/her team/finish)
- The chef wants ... after closing. (to/clean/the kitchen/the assistants)
- The coach wants ... hard (train/the team/to)
- The author wants ... before publication. (review/to/her editor/the manuscript)
- They want ... regularly. (to/the flowers/the gardener/water)
- The librarian wants ... quietly in the library. (to/work/the students)
- The director wants ... by next week. (to/their lines/memorise/the actors)
- Sarah wants ... early. (to/go to bed/her child)
The pattern is:
subject + verb + OBJECT PRONOUN + to + infinitive
I want HIM to go
We should say ‘him’ not ‘he’.
| Subject Pronoun (Wrong ❌) | Object Pronoun (Correct ✅) | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | me | She wants me to help. |
| you | you | I need you to clean your room. |
| he | him | I want him to stay. |
| she | her | We need her to call. |
| it | it | They would like it to work properly. |
| we | us | The teacher wants us to listen. |
| they | them | I don't want them to know. |
Exercise 3
Correct the mistakes:
- My manager wants he to send the weekly report by Friday.
- Do you want I to help you with the heavy bags?
- The teacher would like she to answer the first question.
- We need they to arrive at the office before 9:00 AM.
- Sarah wants we to organise her birthday party.
- Does your brother want she to go to the cinema with him?
- I don't want he to know about the surprise gift.
- The doctor needs I to take this medicine every morning.
- They would like we to prepare the meeting room.
- Do your parents want they to stay overnight?
Exercise 4
Fill in the gaps:
- Mark is confused about the homework. The teacher wants ____________ (he) to read the instructions again.
- We are going to the cinema tonight, and Sarah wants ____________ (we) to buy the tickets online.
- The students are being very noisy. The principal wants ____________ (they) to sit down quietly.
- Wyatt is very busy tonight so he wants ____________ (I) to cook dinner tonight.
- The laptop is glitching. My boss would like ____________ (it) to run faster.
- Anna is bringing salad to the party, but do you want ____________ (she) to make a cake too?
- My brother needs ____________ (you) to give him a ride to the train station tomorrow.
- The children are playing near the street. Their mother wants ____________ (they) to come inside.
- My parents would like ____________ (I) to visit them this weekend.
- Peter didn't finish his project, so the manager needs ____________ (he) to stay late today.
Exercise 5
Answer the questions:
- Who do you want to cook dinner for you on your birthday?
- Is there something you need your neighbours to do differently?
- What would you like your partner/best friend to cook today?
- Do you want somebody to bring you a cup of tea right now?
- What do you want your boss to understand?
- What do you need your friends to know about your new lifestyle?
- What would you like your doctor to do next time you visit them?
- Would you like me to give you more examples?
- Do you want your boyfriend to help you more?
- Do you need your daughter to fall asleep now?
Theory - part 2
Watch the clip and put ‘not’ in the right place.
”I asked them to wear them”
Theory part 2 - is coming soon!