【JLPT N5】Grammar：~が欲しい / ~ga hoshii

sentence pattern: 〜が欲しい / ~ga hoshii

【Grammar Type】
i-Adjective

【Essential Meaning】
To want

【Construction】 i-Adjective

NOTE

• ほしい (hosii/欲しい) is used to express a person’s (typically the speaker’s) desire for some object (i.e. “Person X wants object Y.”)
• 欲しい(hosii) takes the 〜は(~ha)〜が(~ga) construction, with the person who wants something marked by は(ha) and the object that is wanted marked by が(ga). (In subordinate clauses, both the person and the wanted object are marked by Ga).
• Because 欲しい(hosii) expresses an internal personal feeling, it generally requires a first person subject in declarative sentences (i.e. the speaker makes a statement about what he or she likes) or a second person subject in interrogative sentences (i.e. the speaker asks a second person what they like). However, with third person subjects the auxiliary verb がる(garu) is generally used.
  • E.g. First Person Subject: 私は日本人の友達が欲しい。
    • watasi wa nihonjin no tomodachi ga hosii [I want a Japanese friend.]
  • E.g. Second Person Subject: あなたは今何が欲しいですか。
    • anata wa ima nan ga hosii desuka. [What do you want now?]
  • E.g. Third Person Subject: パムは車を欲ほしがっている。
    • pamu wa kuruma wo hosigatteiru. [Pam wants a car.] 
  • Because Pam is a third person subject, the auxiliary very がる(garu) is affixed. Note that the particle を (wo/Direct Object) is paired with がる(garu).
• Below are a few exceptional cases in which 欲しい(hosii) can be used with a third person subject:
  • (1) In the past tense
    • E.g. マークはいい車が欲しかった。
      • ma-ku ha ii kuruma ga hosikatta [Mark wanted a new car.]
  • (2) In indirect speech (i.e. quoting someone or expressing hearsay)
    • E.g. ジョンも欲しいといっている。
      • jon mo hosii to itteiru.[John says he wants it, too.]
    • E.g. オスカーも欲しいそうだ。
      • osuka- mo hosii souda[I heard that Oscar wants it, too.]
  • (3) When providing an explanation for something or offering an excuse
    • E.g. パメラはイヤリングが欲しいんです。
      • pamera wa iyaringu ga hosiindesu[It’s because Pamela wants earrings.]
  • (4) When expressing conjecture
    • E.g. フランシスはうで時計が欲しいらしい。
      • furansis wa udedokei ga hosii rasii. [It seems that Francis wants a wristwatch.]
    • E.g. クリスは人形が欲しいようだ。
      • kurisu wa ningyou ga hosii youda.[It appears that Chris wants a doll.]

Example Sentences

もっとお金が欲しいです。
motto okane ga hosii desu.
I want more money.

Mac Book Proが欲しいです。
Mac Book Prog hosii desu.
I want a Mac Book Pro.

誕生日に何が欲しいですか。
tanjoubi ni nani ga hosii desuka?
What do you want for your birthday?