I've always wanted to

Writer's Note

"I always wanted to" suggests a sense of longing or desire that may have been present in the past but doesn't necessarily continue into the present.

1. He always wanted to be a good son.
Siempre quiso ser un buen hijo.
2. She always wanted to find work at a larger corporation.
Ella siempre quiso encontrar trabajo en una corporación más grande.
3. I remember the days when I always wanted to live in Paris.
Recuerdo los días en que siempre quería vivir en Paris.
4. I always wanted to be a teacher when I was younger.
Siempre quise ser maestro cuando era más joven.

You can see that these sentences suggest that they wanted something to happen, to go somewhere, or be something but for some reason it hasn't come true.

"I have always wanted to" emphasizes that the desire has been ongoing from the past up to the present moment. To put it simply, it usually means you have never done something before.

1. I've always wanted to dine at a Michelin star restaurant.
Siempre he querido cenar en un restaurante con estrella Michelin.
2. I've always wanted to be born with a silver spoon in my mouth.
Sempre he querido nacer con una cuchara de plata en la boca.
3. She's always wanted to be a mother. It breaks my heart to hear that she cannot have kids.
Siempre ha querido ser madre. Me rompe el corazón escuchar que no puede tener hijos.
4. He's always wanted to be able to play the drums. Unfortunately, he comes from an underprivileged household.
Siempre ha querido poder tocar la batería. Desafortunadamente, proviene de un hogar desfavorecido.