🔍 In short. Italian pronouns with modal verbs can go in two places, and both are correct. When you have dovere, potere, volere or sapere followed by an infinitive, the object pronoun has a choice: it can stand in front of the modal (lo devo fare) or attach to the end of the infinitive (devo farlo). Italians use both freely, and the meaning is exactly the same. There’s only one important catch: in negative sentences the pronoun has to stay in front. This guide explains how the choice works, when it matters, and the six traps that trip up English speakers.
Cosa impareremo oggi
👆🏻 Jump to section
- The one-liner rule for Italian pronouns with modal verbs
- The two options: before or after
- The negative sentence exception
- Reflexive pronouns follow the same rule
- Combined pronouns: glielo, me lo, te la
- Other verbs that allow the same choice
- Six traps where English speakers get it wrong
- Cheat sheet
- Dialogue at the library in Pisa
- Mini-challenge
- Frequently asked questions
- Related guides
The one-liner rule for Italian pronouns with modal verbs
With dovere (must, have to), potere (can, may), volere (want), and sapere (know how to), followed by an infinitive, the object pronoun can sit in two positions. Either it goes in front of the modal verb, or it sticks to the end of the infinitive. Both forms mean the same thing. Lo devo fare and devo farlo are interchangeable. The only situation where you lose the choice is in the negative: non lo devo fare is fine, but Italians strongly prefer keeping the pronoun in front when the sentence is negative.
The two options: before or after
The pattern is simple. Take a sentence with a direct object: Pietro deve chiamare la sorella. Replace la sorella with the pronoun la. Now you have two options, both correct:
- Option 1, pronoun before the modal: Pietro la deve chiamare.
- Option 2, pronoun attached to the infinitive: Pietro deve chiamarla.
Both versions mean “Pietro has to call her”. Italians use both and the choice is largely stylistic. Some speakers prefer Option 1 in fast spoken Italian because the pronoun is lighter at the front. Others prefer Option 2 in writing because the verb feels more compact. The pattern works the same way with the other modal verbs and with all object pronouns.
- Voglio leggere quel romanzo. → Lo voglio leggere. / Voglio leggerlo.
- Possiamo aiutare Martina con il trasloco. → La possiamo aiutare. / Possiamo aiutarla.
- Sapete usare la nuova stampante? → La sapete usare? / Sapete usarla?
- Francesco deve studiare i verbi irregolari. → Li deve studiare. / Deve studiarli.
- Voglio ascoltare le canzoni di Battisti. → Le voglio ascoltare. / Voglio ascoltarle.
Notice the small mechanical detail in Option 2: when the pronoun attaches to the infinitive, the final -e of the infinitive drops, and the pronoun joins directly. Chiamare + la = chiamarla. Leggere + lo = leggerlo. Aiutare + la = aiutarla. This is a spelling rule of Italian, not a special grammar move: pronouns attached to infinitives always work this way.
The negative sentence exception
When the sentence is negative, both positions are technically grammatical but Italians overwhelmingly prefer the pronoun in front of the modal. The negation non sits at the very start, then the pronoun, then the modal verb, then the infinitive.
- ✅ Preferred: Non lo voglio fare.. I don’t want to do it.
- ⚠️ Possible but rarer: Non voglio farlo.. Same meaning.
- ✅ Preferred: Non la possiamo aspettare ancora.. We can’t wait for her any longer.
- ✅ Preferred: Non li devo studiare oggi.. I don’t have to study them today.
- ✅ Preferred: Non lo sa risolvere da sola.. She doesn’t know how to solve it on her own.
The reason is rhythm. The cluster non + pronoun + modal verb sounds tight and natural in Italian; non + modal verb + infinitive with attached pronoun feels heavier and a little more formal. In practice, putting the pronoun in front of the modal is what almost every native speaker does in negative sentences without thinking. Adopt the same habit and you’ll sound natural.
🎯 Mini-challenge: Rewrite the sentence with the pronoun in the other position.
- Lo voglio leggere stasera. → ?
- Devi aiutarli con i compiti. → ?
- La possiamo chiamare domani. → ?
- Sapete cucinarla? → ?
- Non lo devo dimenticare! → ? (careful)
👉 See answers
1. Voglio leggerlo stasera.
2. Li devi aiutare con i compiti.
3. Possiamo chiamarla domani.
4. La sapete cucinare?
5. Non devo dimenticarlo! (possible but unnatural. native speakers keep non lo devo dimenticare)
Reflexive pronouns follow the same rule
The choice between before and after applies to reflexive pronouns too. When you have a reflexive verb in the infinitive after a modal, the reflexive pronoun (mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si) can go either before the modal or attached to the infinitive. Native speakers split the choice roughly down the middle.
- Devo svegliarmi presto domani. = Mi devo svegliare presto domani.. I have to wake up early tomorrow.
- Vuole laurearsi entro l’estate. = Si vuole laureare entro l’estate.. She wants to graduate by summer.
- Non possiamo permetterci una vacanza quest’anno. = Non ce la possiamo permettere quest’anno.
- Sapete vestirvi eleganti per la cerimonia? = Vi sapete vestire eleganti per la cerimonia?
- Giulia deve sposarsi a giugno. = Giulia si deve sposare a giugno.
The reflexive pronoun always agrees with the subject. Mi for io, ti for tu, si for lui/lei, ci for noi, vi for voi, si for loro. When attached to the infinitive, the final -e drops as usual: svegliarmi, laurearsi, sposarsi, vestirvi.
Combined pronouns: glielo, me lo, te la
If you need two object pronouns together (indirect + direct), the rule still applies. The combined form moves as a single unit, either before the modal or attached to the infinitive.
- Devo mandare la mail al capo. → Gliela devo mandare. / Devo mandargliela.
- Vuoi prestare il libro a Pietro? → Glielo vuoi prestare? / Vuoi prestarglielo?
- Possiamo regalare i fiori a Martina. → Glieli possiamo regalare. / Possiamo regalarglieli.
- Sa raccontarmi tutta la storia. = Me la sa raccontare tutta.
- Devi spiegarcelo meglio. = Ce lo devi spiegare meglio.
Notice that the combined pronoun glielo, gliela, glieli, gliele (to him/her/them + it/them) is always written as one word, even when it attaches to the infinitive: devo mandargliela, vuoi prestarglielo, possiamo regalarglieli. Other combinations like me lo, te la, ce ne stay as two words before the modal but join the infinitive: me lo deve dare becomes deve darmelo.
Other verbs that allow the same choice
The flexibility isn’t limited to the four classic modal verbs. A handful of other verbs that take an infinitive after them give the same two options. The most important are: andare a, venire a, cominciare a, continuare a, finire di, provare a, stare per.
- Vado a comprare il pane. → Lo vado a comprare. / Vado a comprarlo.
- Cominciamo a leggere il romanzo. → Lo cominciamo a leggere. / Cominciamo a leggerlo.
- Sta per finire la maratona. → La sta per finire. / Sta per finirla.
- Continuo a cercare le chiavi. → Le continuo a cercare. / Continuo a cercarle.
- Prova a chiamare Francesco. → Prova a chiamarlo. / Prova, lo chiami? (informal restructure)
The split is a bit more uneven here: with andare a and cominciare a, attaching to the infinitive sounds slightly more frequent in everyday speech. But both options are correct and you’ll hear both. The key is to recognize the pattern when you read or hear it.
Six traps where English speakers get it wrong
These are the six mistakes English speakers make most often when handling Italian pronouns with modal verbs. Each one comes from importing English habits or guessing the rule.
Trap 1: Putting the pronoun between the modal and the infinitive
Learners sometimes try devo lo fare, putting the pronoun in the middle. This is not Italian. The pronoun goes either before the modal (lo devo fare) or attached to the infinitive (devo farlo). Anywhere else and the sentence breaks. There are only two slots, no third option.
Trap 2: Forgetting to drop the final -e of the infinitive
When the pronoun attaches to the end of the infinitive, the infinitive loses its final -e. Chiamare + la = chiamarla, not chiamarela. Leggere + lo = leggerlo, not leggerelo. The drop is automatic and there are no exceptions. Forgetting it produces a non-existent Italian word.
Trap 3: Using both forms in the same sentence
Don’t combine: lo devo farlo (with the pronoun in front AND attached) is wrong. You pick one. Either before the modal or after the infinitive, never both. The redundancy is jarring to a native ear.
Trap 4: Splitting combined pronouns
If the pronoun is a combined form like glielo, it stays together. You can say glielo devo dire or devo dirglielo, but not gli devo dirlo or lo devo dirgli. The pair moves as one unit, in either position.
Trap 5: Using the wrong pronoun for the verb’s argument
The pronoun has to match what the verb takes. Vedere takes a direct object, so you use lo, la, li, le: devo vederlo. Parlare a qualcuno takes an indirect object, so you use gli, le: devo parlargli. Picking the wrong type produces ungrammatical Italian even if the placement is right. Learn each verb’s argument type along with the verb itself.
Trap 6: Choosing position based on English word order
English puts the object pronoun after the verb: “I have to call her”, “I want to read it”. An English speaker mapping this directly onto Italian will default to Option 2 (attached to the infinitive). That’s grammatical, but it misses half of what native Italian speakers do. Native speakers often prefer the pronoun in front of the modal in fast speech and in negatives. Train yourself to use both, especially in negatives where Option 1 is the natural choice.
🎯 Mini-challenge: Fix the mistake in each sentence.
- Devo lo finire questo libro entro venerdì.
- Vogliamo chiamarela domani mattina.
- Pietro lo deve farlo da solo.
- Non posso vederlo adesso, sono occupata.
- Gli devo dirlo prima che parta.
👉 See answers
1. Lo devo finire (or Devo finirlo). pronoun before modal or attached to infinitive, never in between.
2. Vogliamo chiamarla. drop the final -e of chiamare.
3. Pietro lo deve fare (or Pietro deve farlo). pick one position, not both.
4. Non lo posso vedere. in negatives, native speakers strongly prefer the pronoun in front.
5. Glielo devo dire (or Devo dirglielo). combined pronouns stay as one unit.
Cheat sheet
Use this cheat sheet to recall the two positions and the special cases for Italian pronouns with modal verbs.
| Situation | Option 1: before modal | Option 2: attached to infinitive | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Lo devo fare | Devo farlo | Both equal |
| Negative | Non lo devo fare ✓ preferred | Non devo farlo (rare) | Native speakers pick Option 1 |
| Reflexive | Mi devo svegliare | Devo svegliarmi | Both equal |
| Combined | Glielo devo dare | Devo darglielo | Combined pronoun stays as one unit |
| Other verbs (andare a, cominciare a, ecc.) | Lo vado a comprare | Vado a comprarlo | Same flexibility |
| Question | La sai cucinare? | Sai cucinarla? | Both work |
Dialogue at the library in Pisa
The following dialogue shows Italian pronouns with modal verbs in everyday spoken Italian. Two friends meet at the library in Pisa to plan a study group for the upcoming exam. Notice how Martina and Francesco use both pronoun positions without thinking about it.
- 👩🏻 Martina: Ciao Francesco, ho prenotato una sala studio per le tre. La possiamo usare per tre ore.
- 🧔🏻 Francesco: Perfetto. Hai portato gli appunti di storia?
- 👩🏻 Martina: Sì, ma non li voglio passare a tutti. Solo a noi due e a Pietro.
- 🧔🏻 Francesco: Capito. Pietro arriva alle quattro, mi ha scritto adesso.
- 👩🏻 Martina: Senti, dobbiamo decidere come dividerci i capitoli. Io vorrei prendere il Rinascimento.
- 🧔🏻 Francesco: Bene, io prendo l’Illuminismo. E il Novecento?
- 👩🏻 Martina: Lo possiamo dare a Pietro. Glielo proponiamo quando arriva.
- 🧔🏻 Francesco: D’accordo. Senti, devo finire un capitolo di filosofia prima delle tre. Ti dispiace se vado in sala lettura?
- 👩🏻 Martina: Vai pure. Lo finisci e poi torni. Ti aspetto qui.
- 🧔🏻 Francesco: Grazie. Ah, Martina, hai per caso il libro di metodologia? Devo restituirlo entro stasera e non lo trovo a casa.
- 👩🏻 Martina: Ce l’ho io. Te lo posso prestare adesso, così lo riporti tu in biblioteca.
- 🧔🏻 Francesco: Sei un mito. Allora ci vediamo alle tre in sala.
- 👩🏻 Martina: A dopo.
What to notice in the dialogue
- La possiamo usare: pronoun before the modal (Option 1).
- Non li voglio passare: in the negative, pronoun before the modal. the natural choice.
- Lo possiamo dare a Pietro: pronoun before the modal again, fluid in conversation.
- Devo finire + Lo finisci: Martina alternates between explicit verb and pronoun-first construction.
- Devo restituirlo: pronoun attached to the infinitive (Option 2).
- Te lo posso prestare: combined pronoun te lo before the modal.
- Lo riporti tu in biblioteca: pronoun before a full verb, normal use.
Mini-challenge
🎯 Final challenge: Translate into Italian, giving both positions where possible.
- I have to call my mother tonight.
- We can’t wait for her any longer.
- Do you know how to fix it?
- I want to read it before dinner.
- Pietro must give it to her tomorrow.
- I don’t want to forget the keys.
👉 See answers
1. La devo chiamare stasera. / Devo chiamarla stasera.
2. Non la possiamo aspettare più. (Option 1 strongly preferred in negative)
3. Lo sai riparare? / Sai ripararlo?
4. Lo voglio leggere prima di cena. / Voglio leggerlo prima di cena.
5. Gliela deve dare domani. / Deve dargliela domani.
6. Non le voglio dimenticare. (Option 1 preferred; chiavi is feminine plural → le)
Test your understanding
Take the quiz below to test what you’ve learned about Italian pronouns with modal verbs.
Frequently asked questions
These questions about Italian pronouns with modal verbs come from real conversations among Italian learners online. The pattern is described in the Treccani entry on clitic pronouns for those who want the technical background.
Is lo devo fare or devo farlo correct?
Both are correct and mean the same thing. With modal verbs (dovere, potere, volere, sapere) followed by an infinitive, the object pronoun has two possible positions. It can stand in front of the modal verb (lo devo fare) or attach to the end of the infinitive (devo farlo). Italians use both forms freely. The choice is largely stylistic. Some prefer the pronoun in front in fast speech because it feels lighter; others prefer attachment to the infinitive in writing because the verb feels more compact. Either way, the meaning is identical and you can pick whichever feels more natural in the moment.
When should I put the pronoun before the modal verb?
In negative sentences. Native Italians overwhelmingly prefer the pronoun in front of the modal when the sentence is negative. Non lo voglio fare sounds tight and natural; non voglio farlo is grammatical but rarer in speech. The same applies to non lo devo dire, non la posso aspettare, non li sa cucinare. Outside negative sentences, both positions are equal. If you’re uncertain, defaulting to Option 1 (before the modal) is a safe choice in negatives.
Can the pronoun go in the middle, like devo lo fare?
No. Italian gives you exactly two slots: before the modal verb, or attached to the end of the infinitive. Anywhere else is wrong. Devo lo fare, vuole la chiamare, posso ti vedere are all ungrammatical. The middle position doesn’t exist for pronouns in this construction. Stick to lo devo fare / devo farlo and you’ll never make this mistake.
What happens to the infinitive when the pronoun attaches?
The final -e of the infinitive drops, and the pronoun joins directly. Chiamare + la becomes chiamarla, leggere + lo becomes leggerlo, vedere + li becomes vederli. The drop is automatic and applies to every verb in -are, -ere, -ire. There are no exceptions. The resulting word is a single phonological unit and is written without any apostrophe or hyphen.
Does the same rule apply with andare a, cominciare a, finire di?
Yes, with the same flexibility. Verbs that take an infinitive after a preposition (andare a, venire a, cominciare a, continuare a, finire di, provare a, stare per) allow the pronoun in either position. Lo vado a comprare or vado a comprarlo, lo cominciamo a leggere or cominciamo a leggerlo, both are correct. The pattern extends naturally beyond the four classic modals. With these verbs, native speakers often lean slightly toward attachment to the infinitive in everyday speech, but both options are accepted.
What about combined pronouns like glielo, me lo, te la?
They follow exactly the same rule, but they always stay together as one unit. You can say glielo devo dire (pronoun before modal) or devo dirglielo (attached to infinitive), but never gli devo dirlo or any other split. The combined pronoun moves as a single block. Note that glielo, gliela, glieli, gliele are always written as one word, even when attached to the infinitive: dirglielo, mandargliela, regalargliele. Other combinations like me lo, te la, ce ne stay as two words before the modal but merge with the infinitive: deve darmelo, vuole portartela, può andarsene.
