Questions & Answers about Ich möchte heute nicht mehr lernen.
Why is it möchte and not will here? Aren’t both translated as “want”?
Both can be translated as “want,” but they feel different in German:
möchte (from mögen, subjunctive) = “would like”
- more polite, softer, less direct
- sounds a bit like a wish or preference
- Ich möchte heute nicht mehr lernen. ≈ “I’d rather not study anymore today.”
will (from wollen) = “want (to)” in a strong, direct way
- expresses firm intention or determination
- Ich will heute nicht mehr lernen. ≈ “I don’t want to study anymore today,” with a more definite, sometimes stubborn tone.
Both are grammatically correct; the difference is nuance and politeness. In most everyday situations where English uses “I don’t want to…”, German often prefers möchte or würde gern / würde lieber to sound less blunt.
Why is möchte in second position and lernen at the end?