Vouloir dans le passe'.

Question

Could you please explain why we use "J'ai toujours voulu visiter Paris" - and for example "Hier je voulais visiter le musee"?

What is the grammatical explanation please for the two different tenses?

Merci ! :)

Jim Jones · Answer

Bonjour Laurie-May"J'ai toujours voulu visiter Paris"  --> An unfulfilled eternal desire."Hier je voulais visiter le musee"  --> Background information concerning your current trip, but with the possibility of the visit still to be made.Normally, we expect the passé composé to express an historic completed action.The imparfait would normally express the scenario background information or an habitual action or an action desired but that has not yet taken place.I hope that this will help.Bonne journée Jim