Connecting verbs in their conjugated form

fatedquest said:

Is the process of connecting verbs from any conjugated form the same as connecting them from their dictionary form?

I want to say this sentence.

「They want to play with this boy and girl and have tea with them」

Will the following translation be correct?

彼らはあの男の子と女の子と遊びたがってお茶を飲みた がるんだ

Maybe since the two actions are unrelated, I should use the -たり form?

彼らはあの男の子と女の子と遊びたがったりお茶を飲み たがったりする

Or do I use the desiderative form on one verb on leave the other verb in it's -て or -たり form from it's dictionary form?

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undrentide said:

If "want" is for both "to play" and "to have tea", I'd say
遊んだりお茶を飲んだりしたがる
ｩ

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fatedquest said:

Ah, that makes perfect sense. Why didn't I think of this before? Thank you

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Elizabeth said:

したがる, though, seems a little awkward to me in the sense of "giving signs" or "communicating a desire" to a third party of wanting to play and eat with children. How do you look like you desire to do that exactly ?

Unless the 彼ら are kids, too, and everything leaks out because they are simply not old enough to control themselves ?

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fatedquest said:

Erm, I'm not trying to communicate the desire to a third party, I'm trying to communicate the desire of a third party.
What would be a better way to translate this sentence?
「They want to play with this boy and girl and have tea with them」
The they are are actually children, but does it make a difference?

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Elizabeth said:

I
I have no idea. What is the context ? Is this an omniscient author ? How do you know their state of mind ?

「～たがっている」 is conjectural. Not simply "want" but "act like they want." It contains the speaker's 'guess' based on behavioral signs and signals that adults don't normally give off, esp. re: hunger, drinking tea or play with kids.

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fatedquest said:

Thanks. I guess you could say it's an omniscient author. I plucked this sentence out of a Peter and Jane book. The context would be something like this
Peter and Jane walk up the hill.
They know a boy and girl who lives up there.

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