"Jag vill ha en sekreterare."

Translation: I want a secretary.

[DrMicroChem]

A caution for those who are not native English speakers: One would say, "I would like to have a secretary." "I want a secretary" can have a meaning that is not acceptable in the business world or in general company.

[trevro]

I don't know...I think "I want a secretary" is perfectly fine to say in the business world or in general company, as long as you don't say it with any sort of inappropriate innuendo. If you're just saying to your boss or co-workers, or friends or family or whomever, that you want a secretary (because presumably, you're overworked, or maybe just lazy), I don't think anybody would react negatively.

[Arnauti]

Just remember that 'I would like to have a secretary' is Jag skulle vilja ha en sekreterare in Swedish. vill ha vs skulle vilja ha correspond very well to the English want vs would like.

[yellkaa]

Well, i guess, that's the moment when non-native English speakers kindly ask you to explain the difference between 'want' and 'would like'.

Is this about 'I have a strong moral need in this' vs 'that would be nice to have this, but I can live without it'?

[Arnauti]

I think mostly it's a difference in politeness/directness. want is more direct and would like is more polite.

[telemetry]

I think it's a joke about 'want' meaning a sexual need, like when somebody wants someone badly. Usually that's directed at a specific person though, nobody would hear "I want a secretary" and assume that meaning

[DrMicroChem]

Tack! Although I can't say that I'm happy that the subjunctive is lurking in my future......

[petporcupine]

I'd be more likely to say "I need a secretary," regardless of the circumstances.

[DrMicroChem]

Yes, that seems the most natural to me.

[iBeRachel]

I disagree comepletely. It doesnt have that meaning at all unless you specifically say it in a way that implies it. Its perfectly fine to say.

[Dazdingo0]

Can soneone tell me why is there en before sekreterare ? I thought you dont use them when talking about jobs

[DarkMoonFire]

I think the difference is whether you are talking about a specific person or not.

If you say I am a secretary, you don't use the 'en' because you are talking about a specific person (me). Here, the word secretary is describing "my job title".

If you say I want a secretary, you are not talking about a specific person. Here, the word secretary is describing "a person who does that type of job".

Not sure if I've explained that well, but hope it makes sense.

[yellkaa]

I'd suggest 'en' may mean he'll be satisfied with having only one secretary this time ;)

[Dazdingo0]

Okay Thanks I didnt think about it that way.

[leahslv]

When do you need to add 'ha' after vill?

[Arnauti]

When what you want is a noun. Read more here: https://www.duolingo.com/comment/5892480

[StevenH89]

Thank you for this article it was extremely helpful!

[Johanna343085]

Is a secretary not more or less the same thing as a personal assistant / pa?

[DestinyLow1]

is vill ha essentially "i want to have" ?

[pselkirk]

Exactly that.

[jeremyswedish]

"I would like to have a secretary" is not accepted?

[SandraKosk]

Directly translates that would be "Jag skulle vilja ha en sekreterare". "Vill" - "want", present tense. "Skulle vilja" - "would like", present subjunctive.

[danielmonteiro16]

Lit. I want to have a secretary, like Portuguese querer ter “vill ha”

[nehakl23]

Just to confirm... sekreterare is the singular and plural form of secretary, am I right?

[Zmrzlina]

Yes, in the indefinite they are the same.

[mwarcf8W]

Are there any diffrences between ha and har?

[Bolt0n]

ha is the infinitive form "to have". har is the present form.

[mwarcf8W]

Thank you.:)

[Margaret278812]

The article "en" is required here, but not in "Varför arbeter du som författare?" Is it that no article is required because the profession relates to the subject? I did try the link to the comments section, but it didn't work

[pselkirk]

You've got it. "Jag är sekreterare". It's an identity of the subject (profession, religion, political party, nationality, etc). "Jag vill ha en sekreterare." It's something the subject wants.

A little off-topic, but when you use the "identity" word more figuratively, you do use the article:

• Han är clown. He is a clown = It's his job.
• Han är en clown. He is a clown = He behaves like a clown.

[Lilja652023]

All i want for christmas is a secretary

[gibbano]

Flicka930 must be trolling