Differences between хочу and хотел

[thevoiceofnick.livejournal.com]

What exactly is the difference between хочу and хотел?

I have some tapes and they don't really explain when you use either one.

Comments

[noser.livejournal.com]

You can't say "Я бы хочу". Past tense is fixed in this expression. бы and был are not interchangeable.

[superslayer18.livejournal.com]

can't you use by hochu since they are both in present tense? Or Byl hotel since they are both in past?

[noser.livejournal.com]

No, no. Бы is just a particle that puts the verb into subjunctive mood. Check this out:

http://masterrussian.com/aa042700a.shtml