Breakdown of Утром мне хочется не столько кофе, сколько тёплой каши.
мне
me
кофе
the coffee
утром
in the morning
хотеться
to feel like
Questions & Answers about Утром мне хочется не столько кофе, сколько тёплой каши.
Why does утром mean in the morning, and why is there no preposition?
Утром is the instrumental singular form of утро. In Russian, the instrumental case is often used by itself to express time, especially parts of the day:
- утром = in the morning
- днём = in the daytime / during the day
- вечером = in the evening
- ночью = at night
So Russian does not need a separate word like in here.
A useful contrast:
- утром = in the morning, this morning, mornings in general depending on context
- по утрам = in the mornings / every morning, more clearly habitual
Why is it мне хочется and not я хочу?
Both can be translated with want, but they are not exactly the same.
- я хочу = I want
- мне хочется = I feel like..., I would like..., I’m in the mood for...
Мне хочется sounds softer and more spontaneous. It often describes a feeling or craving rather than a firm, deliberate wish.
So in this sentence, мне хочется suggests something like: in the morning, what appeals to me is warm porridge rather than coffee.
What exactly is хочется?