Question
In a story in a dual language book I ran into “воевать хотелось всем” which was translated as “everybody wanted to fight”. This short sentence raised 3 perplexing questions to me
1) Why is the verb in the neuter singular?
2) Suppose the non reflexive form хотело had been used. Would this change the meaning?
3) According to grammar tables, всем can be either neuter instrumental singular or dative plural. Which is it here and why?
Thank you.
Answer
Hi George,
The verb хотеться is a so-called impersonal verb, it is always used in the neuter form. It is alwazs reflexive. The verb хотеть is a personal verb, it is a different one. The verb хотеться is always used with the subject in the Dative case and the object in the Genitive case or an infinitive.
Мне хотелось хлеба. I wanted to eat some bread.
Ему не хотелось есть. He didn't want to eat.
More questions like this one
- Meaning of "Не бойся собаки, что лает, а бойся той, что молчит да хвостом виляет"
- Russian Future Passive Participles?
- Difference between "приготовить", "подготовить", etc.
- Difference between "оба" and "и то, и другое"
- Does двигайся mean move?
- How to Speak Russian Fluently and Without Accent?
- Frases volitivas, del caso vocativo en latin.
- Difference between "платить-заплатить" and "оплачивать-оплатить"
- Meaning of the Russian particle мол
- Learning Russian while sleeping
Do you have questions yourself? Ask us and we will be happy to help you!
Ask your question