Quisiera and quiere
what is the difference between quisiera and quiere? Do both of them mean 'want'?
1 Answer
Hello Tortugaestábailando,
Welcome to the SpanishDict forum 
You asked:
what is the difference between quisiera and quiere? Do both of them mean 'want'?
Both these words come fom the verb querer = to wish , to want and to love
ex: Quiere = he/she wants /wishes, loves or you (polite / formal form) want, wish or love.
ex: (el) Quiere hablar con su amigo = He wants to speak to his friend.
(ella) Quiere ir de compras con su marido = She wants to go shopping with her husband
(Ud) Quiere sentarse porque está muy cansado = He wants to sit down because he is very tired.
The word quisiera means/ = I would like to .....(+ /add the following verb ) etc....
Quisiera is the (imperfect) subjunctive form of the same verb querer.
The subjunctive is not a tense but a mood (I am not a grammar expert so I cannot really explain the difference between a tense and a mood)
Beginners can learn to use the conditional tense to mean I would like to . .......do something:
ex: Me gustaría comprar un nuevo coche = I would like to buy a new car.
This is the usual and easiest way to say: I would like to do something.
If You are a beginner you can focus on the present, future, conditional and past tenses of the indicative and leave learning the subjunctive till later after you are more secure (confident) in knowing how to use the indicative tenses I have just mentioned. If you are taking a formal Spanish class with others in a group., you will need to be guided by the (native) teacher as to when you start learning the subjunctive.
I would like is a much more polite/respectful way to ask for something in another language and iimplies I would like to have something (if .provided that you, could/ would be willing to give it to me)
ex: Quisiera comprar un nuevo coche = I would like to buy a new car
I hope this helps
Corrijan mi español,por favor
