This is a good question — and the answer is actually simple
but important.
Short answer
👉 “want to + V1” is
correct.
👉
“want to + V2” is NOT correct in standard English.
Why “want to + V1” is correct
Want is a main verb, and when a verb follows to,
it must be in the base form (V1).
This structure is called an infinitive.
Examples:
- I
want to eat
- She
wants to go
- They
wanted to leave
Even if want is in the past (wanted), the verb
after to does not change.
✅ I wanted to call you.
❌
I wanted to called you.
Why “want to + V2” is wrong
V2 (past form) already shows time.
But “to” + verb never shows time — the tense is carried by the main verb
(want / wanted).
So:
- ❌
I want to went
- ❌
She wants to did
These don’t exist in correct English.
Common confusion source
People mix this up because English has:
- want
+ noun → I want a car
- want
+ past verb in meaning → I wanted that before
But grammar rules stay the same:
to + verb = base form (V1), always
Easy rule to remember
If there is “to” before a verb, the verb is V1.
No exceptions with want.
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