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Learning through examples in manga

Want to ask a favor with 〜たい＋ことがある

Grammar Explanation: Want to say or do something with 〜たい＋ことがある

Manga panel from しろくまカフェ bis showing example of Want to ask a favor with 〜たい＋ことがある.
しろくまカフェ bis » Volume 2 » Page 112

Grizzy is deep into his winter hibernation when his phone starts ringing. He answers, knowing only Polar Bear would be calling him during hibernation.

シロクマ:
「グリズリーくんに頼(たの)みたいことがあるんだけど」
“Grizzly-kun, I want a favor from you.”
「まだねてるの？」
“Are you still sleeping?”
グリズリー:
「今(いま)　何月(なんがつ)だよ？」
“What month is it now?”

Key Points

  1. 頼(たの)みたいことがある = “there’s a favor I want to ask”

    • 頼(たの)みたい is the 〜たい form of 頼(たの)む, “to ask/request”.

    • It modifies こと, so the phrase literally says there is a thing Polar Bear wants to ask.

  2. グリズリーくんに marks who the request is for

    • Here に points to Grizzly as the person Polar Bear wants to ask.

  3. こと keeps the favor unnamed for the moment

    • Polar Bear does not state the favor yet; こと packages it as “something”.

  4. んだけど softens the request and leaves it open

    • んだ adds an explanatory feel: Polar Bear is calling because he has this favor.

    • けど trails off, making the request less direct and inviting Grizzly to respond.

  5. まだねてるの uses casual spoken grammar

    • ねてる is the casual contraction of 寝(ね)ている, “be sleeping”.