19.3 Indicating Preferences with 想 soeng2 (‘to want to’) and 多啲 do1 di1 (‘more’)
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When discussing two or more options, we often need to indicate preferences. We can combine the modal verb 想 soeng2 (‘to want to’) and the adverb 多啲 do1 di1 (‘more’, in the sense of ‘to a greater degree’, as in I like pizza more) to indicate that we prefer one option to the other options. The meaning of the sentence will be ‘I want to … more’. We put 多啲 do1 di1 after the option.
To ask for preferences among two or more options, we can use the conjunction 定 ding6 / 定係 ding6 hai6 (‘or’). The meaning of the question will be ‘Do you want to … or … more?’.
If the two options have the same verb, we can optionally omit the verb in the second option.
Let’s look at the examples above in a context:
| A: | 不如去旺角或者銅鑼灣食吖。 bat1 jyu4 heoi3 wong6 gok3 waak6 ze2 tung4 lo4 waan1 sik6 aa1. Why don’t we go to Mong Kok or Causeway Bay to eat? |
| B: | 好呀。 hou2 aa3. Good. [= Sure.] |
| A: | 噉你想去旺角定銅鑼灣多啲呀？ gam2 nei5 soeng2 heoi3 wong6 gok3 ding6 tung4 lo4 waan1 do1 di1 aa3? Do you want to go to Mong Kok or go to Causeway Bay more then? |
| B: | 我想去旺角多啲呀。 ngo5 soeng2 heoi3 wong6 gok3 do1 di1 aa3. I want to go to Mong Kok more. |