Wanting something: が ほしい

Use noun + が + ほしい for a thing you want: 車くるま が ほしい です means “I want a car.” The noun comes before が ほしい. To say you want to perform an action, use the verb’s たい form instead.

English “want” is a verb, but ほしい is an i-adjective. Learn が with this basic pattern rather than copying English object grammar. You may also see は when the desired thing is the topic or is being contrasted, as in the money example below.

Its forms follow the i-adjective pattern: ほしくない です means “do not want,” and ほしかった です means “wanted.” As with たい, start by using it for your own wishes and questions to the listener.