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Modal Verbs: Dovere, Potere, and Volere by Ronald Glenn Wrigley, M.A.

Modal verbs express possibility, ability, need, or intention. The modal verbs dovere (must, to have to), potere (can, to be able to), and volere (to want to) are irregular in the present tense. They are often followed by an infinitive. In limited instances, dovere and volere may be followed by a noun.

Volere (to want to) <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>io voglio</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>noi vogliamo</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>tu vuoi</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>voi volete</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>lui vuole</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>loro vogliono</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>lei vuole</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Loro vogliono</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>Lei vuole</emphasis></p></td> <td><para/></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <bridgehead>Potere (can, to be able to)</bridgehead> <table frame="all" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>io posso</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>noi possiamo</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>tu puoi</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>voi potete</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>lui può</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>loro possono</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>lei può</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Loro possono</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>Lei può</emphasis></p></td> <td><para/></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <bridgehead>Dovere (must, to have to)</bridgehead> <table frame="all" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>io devo</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>noi dobbiamo</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>tu devi</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>voi dovete</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>lui deve</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>loro devono</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>lei deve</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Loro devono</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>Lei deve</emphasis></p></td> <td><para/></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <p>Some examples:</p> <p><emphasis>Io voglio andare in vacanza in Messico.</emphasis> <emphasis role="Bolditalic">I want to go on vacation in Mexico.</emphasis></p> <p><emphasis>Non posso andare in vacanza in Messico perché devo lavorare tutta l'estate.</emphasis> <emphasis role="Bolditalic">I can't go on vacation in Mexico because I have to work all summer.</emphasis></p> <p><emphasis>Io non posso andare a teatro stasera, perché devo studiare.</emphasis> <emphasis role="Bolditalic">I can't go to the theater tonight, because I have to study.</emphasis></p> <p><emphasis>Io devo cinque dollari a Stefano.</emphasis> <emphasis role="Bolditalic">(when followed by a noun, dovere means to owe). I owe Stefano five dollars.</emphasis></p> <p><emphasis>Io voglio un caffè.</emphasis> <emphasis role="Bolditalic">I want a coffee.</emphasis></p> <p><emphasis>Io voglio bere un caffè.</emphasis> <emphasis role="Bolditalic">I want to drink a coffee.</emphasis></p> <h2>Exercise 8: Dovere, Potere, and Volere</h2> <p>The following people want to do certain things. Say that they are unable to do them, and why, using the verbs <emphasis>potere</emphasis> and <emphasis>dovere</emphasis>, as in the example.</p> <p><emphasis>Marco vuole fare una passeggiata. Non può fare una passeggiata per-ché deve studiare.</emphasis> <emphasis role="Bolditalic">Marco wants to take a walk. He can't take a walk because he has to study.</emphasis></p> <ul> <li><p><emphasis>Tu vuoi comprare una nuova Mercedes.</emphasis></p> <p></p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Davide e Maria vogliono fare un viaggio in Inghilterra.</emphasis></p> <p></p></li> <li><p><emphasis>I miei amici vogliono andare al cinema.</emphasis></p> <p></p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Lui vuole ascoltare la musica.</emphasis></p> <p></p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Elena ed io vogliamo visitare Venezia.</emphasis></p> <p></p></li> </ul> <!--/gc--> <div id="pagination"><ul><li class="prev"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/italian-practice/second-and-third-conjugation-verbs-and-adverbs/irregular-ire-verbs.htm" title="Irregular -Ire Verbs">Irregular -Ire Verbs</a></li><li class="next"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/italian-practice/second-and-third-conjugation-verbs-and-adverbs/to-know-sapere-and-conoscere.htm" title="“To Know”: Sapere and Conoscere">“To Know”: Sapere and Conoscere</a> </li></ul></div></div> <div id="coda"> 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