[Cola]

I'd already done steps (1), (2) and (4) and was wondering why it didn't work; it was because I'd missed step (3).

Thanks!

No problem!

Why is "と" the correct particle?

And can ほしい always be used with verbs? I thought it was only for nouns and maybe adjectives.

Thanks.

と is the particle usually used with いう (to speak/say/etc.).

て-form of a verb plus ほしい is used when A wants B to do something. ほしい is already an adjective, so it can't be used directly with another adjective. Noun plus が plus ほしい is used to indicate someone wants some thing.