Want Doing vs. Want To Do
Oxford documents ordinary want + to-infinitive for desire and an informal “want doing” construction meaning that something needs an action. The page treats the difference as both construction and meaning, not free alternation.
Use “want to do” for a desired action by the subject. In informal British English, “want doing” can mean “need to be done,” as in “the plants want watering”; it is a different meaning and construction.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Context | Use | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| subject desires to perform the following action | want to do | Use “want + to-infinitive.” |
| thing needs an action done to it, informal especially British | want doing | This can mean “need to be done.” |
| same surface verb but different participant role | check meaning | The two constructions are not free substitutes. |
Quick tests
Desire-or-need test
Does the subject want to perform the action, or does the subject need the action done to it?
If yes: Desire by subject → “want to do”; informal need/required-action sense → “want doing.”
If no: Recheck the intended complement and participant roles.
Caveat: The “want doing” need-sense is informal and especially associated with British English; it is not simply a shorter version of “want to do.”
Examples
I want to repair the gate this weekend.
The subject desires to perform the repair.
The gate wants repairing before winter.
Informal “want + -ing” means the gate needs to be repaired.
They want to leave early.
The subject desires to perform the following action.
Further guidance
Decision
Choose by meaning: “I want to water the plants” expresses desire; “the plants want watering” means the plants need to be watered.
Desire Pattern
Use want + to-infinitive when the subject desires to perform the following action.
Need Pattern
In informal usage, especially British English, want + -ing can mean “need to be done,” with the subject receiving rather than performing the action.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- want — Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries · Want to do; want + object + -ing; informal want doing meaning need doing
- Verb patterns: verb + infinitive or verb + -ing? (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Verb-complement patterns, including verbs taking -ing, to-infinitive, or both with meaning differences