Je veux exprimer ma joie avec cette chanson.

I want to express my joy with this song.

Breakdown of Je veux exprimer ma joie avec cette chanson.

• je: I
• avec: with
• ma: my
• vouloir: to want

Questions & Answers about Je veux exprimer ma joie avec cette chanson.

Why is it Je veux exprimer and not something like Je veux à exprimer?

In French, vouloir (to want) is followed directly by another verb in the infinitive without a preposition.

• Je veux exprimer… = I want to express…
• No à or de is used between veux and exprimer here.

Some other verbs do take a preposition before an infinitive (e.g. commencer à faire, essayer de faire), but vouloir does not.

What tense and person is veux?

Veux is the present tense, first person singular of the verb vouloir (to want).

• Je veux = I want
• Tu veux = you want (informal singular)
• Il/Elle veut = he/she wants

So Je veux exprimer… literally means I want to express… in the present.

What is the function of exprimer in this sentence?