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Want to say something 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 俺物語!! showing example of Want to say something with 〜たい＋ことがある.
俺物語!! » Volume 9 » Page 117

Ichinose normally shuns his inferior co-workers. When Rinko starts working at the confectionery, she unknowningly becomes Ichinose’s muse. Even after learning of her boyfriend, Ichinose still convinces Rinko to spend long hours helping him prepare for an upcoming competition. He plans to confess his feelings to Rinko after he wins the competition.

一之瀬(いちのせ):
「コンクールが終(お)わったら言(い)いたいことがある…」
“Once the competition has ended, I want to say something.”

Key Points

  1. 〜たい＋ことがある = “have something I want to (do/say)”

    • This pattern combines the 〜たい desire form with ことがある, literally “there is something [I] want to…”

    • Here, 言(い)いたいことがある means “I have something I want to say”.

  2. Indirect and anticipatory tone

    • Rather than directly saying 言(い)いたい (“I want to say”), adding ことがある makes it feel more momentous or significant.

    • “I have something I want to say” hints at importance without revealing what it is.

  3. 〜たら sets the timing

    • コンクールが終(お)わったら = “once/after the competition ends”.

    • The 〜たら conditional establishes when he’ll say it (not now, but later).

See Also