I have wanted

USAGE SUMMARY

"I have wanted" is a grammatically correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to indicate that you have felt a particular desire in the past. For example, "I have wanted to travel around the world since I was a child."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I have wanted it for years.

The New York Times - Magazine

I have wanted them for 17 years.

The New York Times

Would I have wanted to meet her?

The Guardian - Music

"I have wanted an incest family since I was younger.

Independent

It has always been something I have wanted to do.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ever since, I have wanted to finish these dramas.

The Guardian

I have wanted to visit Chiapas for some years.

The New York Times

I have wanted to do that for a while.

The Guardian - Money

I have wanted to since I was seven.

The Guardian

She added: "Would I have wanted more opportunities to work on even greater films, consistently?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Every employee I have wants one.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I have wanted", ensure the tense aligns with the intended meaning. Use it to express a desire that existed over a period of time up to the present.

Common error

Avoid mixing tenses when describing the duration of the desire. Ensure that if the desire is ongoing, the subsequent clauses also reflect this.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I have wanted" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense, indicating a desire or intention that began in the past and continues to the present, or has relevance to the present. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I have wanted" is a grammatically sound and versatile verb phrase in the present perfect tense. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's used to convey a sustained desire from the past to the present and is common across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. When writing, ensure the tense remains consistent and aligns with the desired meaning. Be mindful of alternatives like "I have desired" or "I have longed for" to add nuance to your expression. Ludwig's examples provide ample context for its proper usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I have desired

Replaces "wanted" with a more formal synonym, indicating a strong feeling of wanting something.

I have yearned for

Indicates a deep and persistent longing, stronger than simply "wanting".

I have longed for

Similar to "yearned for", suggesting a strong and often sentimental desire.

I have wished for

Suggests a hope or desire, often for something that seems unlikely.

I have craved

Implies a strong and urgent desire, often for something specific.

I have had a desire for

More formal and descriptive, emphasizing the presence of a desire.

I have been eager for

Highlights anticipation and enthusiasm about something.

I have aimed for

Shifts the focus to an objective or goal that one has been striving to achieve.

I have pursued

Implies active effort and determination in seeking something.

It has been my ambition to

Indicates a long-held goal or aspiration.

FAQs

How can I use "I have wanted" in a sentence?

Use "I have wanted" to express a desire or intention that you've had for a period of time. For example, "I have wanted to learn Spanish for years."

What's the difference between "I wanted" and "I have wanted"?

"I wanted" refers to a desire you had at a specific point in the past, which might no longer be relevant. "I have wanted" indicates a desire that started in the past and continues to be relevant now. For instance, "I wanted a car last year, but now I prefer a bicycle," versus "I have wanted a car since I was a teenager."

What can I say instead of "I have wanted"?

You can use alternatives like "I have desired", "I have longed for", or "I have wished for" depending on the intensity and context of your desire.

Is "I have been wanting" the same as "I have wanted"?

While both express a past desire, "I have been wanting" emphasizes the continuous nature of the desire over a period, while "I have wanted" simply states that the desire existed from a point in the past until now. For instance, "I have been wanting to visit Paris since I saw it in a movie," highlights the ongoing desire. In contrast, "I have wanted to visit Paris," focuses on the existence of this desire.