Page 148 - Easy Japanese - Learn to Speak Japanese Quickly! (TUTTLE)

X-tai is typically used to express the speaker’s desire (“I want to …”) and to ask
the addressee’s desire (“Do you want to…?”) but not a third person’s desire (“He
wants to ….”) Also note that with the -tai form, the object of the verb can be
marked either by the particle ga or o.
Nani o tabetai? What do you want to eat?

Nani ga tabetai? What do you want to eat?

Be careful not to use the -tai form when inviting or suggesting someone to do
something. Use negative questions, instead.

Tabemasen ka. Wouldn’t you like to have some?
(Invitation)
Tabetai desu ka. Do you want to eat it? (Question)

GRAMMAR NOTE Predicate + no to Explain Situation

In the dialogue, Yuki asks what Mei’s vacation plans are and Mei answers that
she plans to travel with friends. Both of these sentences end with no. The no
added at the end of a sentence refers to the circumstance, or how things are. It

provides an explanation or background information regarding the situation,
similar to how we would say “So…”, or “It’s that…”. In the dialogue, Yuki is
aware that the summer holidays are approaching and assumes that Mei has plans.
Thus he uses no to ask what her plans are, effectively saying, “So, what are your
plans for the summer vacation?” Without no, the question would sound general,
and indicate no connection between the question and his assumption about the

vacation.
No can be added to an adjective, noun, or verb predicate. Note that for a noun
predicate, you need to insert na before no. To make a Formal form, change no to
n desu. The no or n desu can be added to the Negative forms and Past forms as
well.

Adjective: Takai no. Takai n desu. It’s that it’s
expensive.
Verb: Kaeru no. Kaeru n desu. It’s that I’m going

home.
Noun: Yasumi na no. Yasumi na n It’s that it’s a break.
desu.