Why don't we use "want" with "to"?

[Mellissa]

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #121 "English Grammar Tenses", question 10

I ......... complete silence now while I try this experiment.

(a) am wanting
(b) want
(c) did want
(d) have wanted

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #121 "English Grammar Tenses", answer 10

I want complete silence now while I try this experiment.

Correct answer: (b) want

Your answer was: incorrect
I am wanting complete silence now while I try this experiment.
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Why don't we use "want" with "to" ex;want to?

Mellissa

[Alan]

Hi Mellissa,

You can of course say: I want to do somehting but in the sentence in the test I have used a noun (complete silence) as the object.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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