{"id":17106,"date":"2016-06-14T00:15:02","date_gmt":"2016-06-13T15:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/?p=17106"},"modified":"2026-05-16T08:01:06","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T23:01:06","slug":"italian-modal-verbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-modal-verbs\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian Modal Verbs: Dovere, Potere, Volere, Sapere (B1)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>\ud83d\udd0d <strong>In short.<\/strong> The <strong>italian modal verbs<\/strong> are <em>dovere<\/em> (must, have to), <em>potere<\/em> (can, may), <em>volere<\/em> (want), plus <em>sapere<\/em> when it means &#8220;to know how to&#8221;. They are called <em>verbi servili<\/em> because they serve another verb, which always follows in the infinitive: <em>devo partire<\/em>, <em>posso entrare<\/em>, <em>voglio restare<\/em>, <em>so guidare<\/em>. The two things that trip up English speakers are the auxiliary in the passato prossimo (<em>ho dovuto<\/em> vs <em>sono dovuto<\/em>) and where the pronoun goes (<em>lo devo fare<\/em> vs <em>devo farlo<\/em>). This guide covers the forms, potere vs sapere, the auxiliary rule, clitic placement, and polite uses, with a dialogue and a quiz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Get the italian modal verbs right and a huge slice of everyday Italian opens up: permission, obligation, ability, desire, polite requests. By the end you will choose the auxiliary and place the pronoun without hesitating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-toc-modal\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-toc-h-modal gb-headline-text\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:24px\">Cosa impareremo oggi<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">\ud83d\udc46\ud83c\udffb Jump to section<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#what\">What the italian modal verbs are<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#forms\">Present-tense forms<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#potere-sapere\">Potere vs sapere: two ways to say &#8220;can&#8221;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#aux\">Essere or avere in the passato prossimo<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#avere-forced\">When avere is forced<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#clitics\">Pronoun placement: lo devo fare or devo farlo<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#polite\">Polite requests: vorrei, potrei, potrebbe<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#regret\">Regret and advice: avrei dovuto, dovevo<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cheat-sheet\">Cheat sheet: italian modal verbs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#mistakes\">Three common mistakes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#dialog\">Dialog: at the garage<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#audio\">Audio: modal verbs in context<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#related\">Related guides<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#quiz\">Quiz<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what\">What the italian modal verbs are<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Walk into a garage in Modena and you will hear the italian modal verbs within the first thirty seconds: <em>deve cambiare le gomme<\/em>, <em>posso darle un&#8217;occhiata<\/em>, <em>vuole aspettare?<\/em>. Italian groups <em>dovere<\/em>, <em>potere<\/em> and <em>volere<\/em> as <em>verbi servili<\/em>: they serve a second verb that follows in the infinitive, with no preposition in between.<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Devo passare in libreria prima delle sette.<br><em>I have to stop by the bookshop before seven.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Posso lasciare la macchina qui davanti?<br><em>Can I leave the car here in front?<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Caterina vuole finire il vestito entro venerd\u00ec.<br><em>Caterina wants to finish the dress by Friday.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>A fourth verb, <em>sapere<\/em>, joins the club only when it means &#8220;to know how to&#8221;: <em>so guidare<\/em> = &#8220;I can drive&#8221; (I have the skill). With that meaning it behaves exactly like the other italian modal verbs. The job of each is simple: <em>dovere<\/em> = obligation or necessity, <em>potere<\/em> = possibility or permission, <em>volere<\/em> = will or desire, <em>sapere<\/em> = acquired ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"forms\">Present-tense forms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>All four italian modal verbs are irregular in the present, and they are so frequent that the forms become automatic fast. <em>Dovere<\/em> has two accepted variants in the io and loro persons (<em>devo\/debbo<\/em>, <em>devono\/debbono<\/em>); the <em>devo\/devono<\/em> forms are the everyday default.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table>\n<thead><tr><th>Person<\/th><th>dovere<\/th><th>potere<\/th><th>volere<\/th><th>sapere<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr><td>io<\/td><td>devo<\/td><td>posso<\/td><td>voglio<\/td><td>so<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>tu<\/td><td>devi<\/td><td>puoi<\/td><td>vuoi<\/td><td>sai<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>lui\/lei<\/td><td>deve<\/td><td>pu\u00f2<\/td><td>vuole<\/td><td>sa<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>noi<\/td><td>dobbiamo<\/td><td>possiamo<\/td><td>vogliamo<\/td><td>sappiamo<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>voi<\/td><td>dovete<\/td><td>potete<\/td><td>volete<\/td><td>sapete<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>loro<\/td><td>devono<\/td><td>possono<\/td><td>vogliono<\/td><td>sanno<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Professor Rossi, vuole un t\u00e8 mentre aspetta?<br><em>Professor Rossi, would you like a tea while you wait?<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Devo lavorare di pi\u00f9 perch\u00e9 voglio aprire una mia libreria a Lucca.<br><em>I have to work more because I want to open my own bookshop in Lucca.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Sai cambiare una ruota da solo?<br><em>Do you know how to change a wheel on your own?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-focus-vuole\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p>\ud83d\udd0d <strong>Vuole, not vole.<\/strong> The lui\/lei form of <em>volere<\/em> is <em>vuole<\/em> (irregular diphthong), the same pattern as <em>pu\u00f2<\/em> and <em>deve<\/em>. A frequent learner slip is regularising it to &#8220;vole&#8221;; native ears catch it instantly. The italian modal verbs reward drilling these six forms until they are reflex.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"potere-sapere\">Potere vs sapere: two ways to say &#8220;can&#8221;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>English &#8220;can&#8221; hides a distinction that the italian modal verbs keep separate. <em>Potere<\/em> is possibility or permission given by circumstances; <em>sapere<\/em> is an ability you learned. &#8220;I can drive&#8221; is <em>so guidare<\/em> if you mean you have a licence and the skill, but <em>posso guidare<\/em> if you mean the situation allows it (you are sober, the car is free).<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pietro sa guidare il furgone, ma oggi non pu\u00f2 perch\u00e9 ha bevuto.<br><em>Pietro can (knows how to) drive the van, but today he can&#8217;t because he has been drinking.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Caterina sa cucire a macchina, per\u00f2 non pu\u00f2 lavorare: la sartoria \u00e8 chiusa.<br><em>Caterina can (knows how to) machine-sew, but she can&#8217;t work: the tailor shop is closed.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Non so nuotare, quindi non posso aiutarti in piscina.<br><em>I can&#8217;t (don&#8217;t know how to) swim, so I can&#8217;t help you at the pool.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>Quick test: if you could replace &#8220;can&#8221; with &#8220;know how to&#8221;, use <em>sapere<\/em>. If you could replace it with &#8220;be allowed to&#8221; or &#8220;be in a position to&#8221;, use <em>potere<\/em>. Mixing them up is one of the most common errors English speakers make with the italian modal verbs, and it changes the meaning, not just the style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One more nuance hides inside <em>dovere<\/em>. Besides obligation, it expresses probability: <em>deve essere stanco<\/em> is not &#8220;he must obey&#8221; but &#8220;he must be tired&#8221;, a deduction. Context separates the two, and the difference is usually obvious from the verb that follows. The italian modal verbs are economical that way: a handful of forms cover obligation, deduction, ability, permission and desire, so a few minutes spent sorting the meanings now saves constant hesitation later. <em>Volere<\/em> has its own quirk: with a noun it means plain &#8220;want&#8221; (<em>voglio un caff\u00e8<\/em>), but with a following clause and the subjunctive it becomes a request imposed on someone else (<em>voglio che tu venga<\/em>), a structure worth keeping separate from the bare modal pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aux\">Essere or avere in the passato prossimo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the question that stops every learner. In the passato prossimo the italian modal verbs normally take <em>avere<\/em>: <em>ho dovuto lavorare<\/em>, <em>hanno voluto aprire<\/em>, <em>avevi potuto prenderlo?<\/em>. But when the verb in the infinitive is one that takes <em>essere<\/em> (a movement or change verb, a reflexive), the modal usually borrows <em>essere<\/em> too.<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ho dovuto lavorare fino a tardi in libreria.<br><em>I had to work late at the bookshop. (lavorare \u2192 avere)<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Pietro \u00e8 dovuto andare a Pisa per la consegna.<br><em>Pietro had to go to Pisa for the delivery. (andare \u2192 essere)<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Caterina non \u00e8 potuta venire perch\u00e9 non stava bene.<br><em>Caterina couldn&#8217;t come because she wasn&#8217;t well. (venire \u2192 essere)<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Siamo dovuti tornare a Modena con l&#8217;ultimo treno.<br><em>We had to go back to Modena on the last train. (tornare \u2192 essere)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>The reliable rule: take the auxiliary the infinitive would take on its own. <em>Andare<\/em> \u2192 <em>\u00e8 andato<\/em>, so <em>\u00e8 dovuto andare<\/em>. <em>Lavorare<\/em> \u2192 <em>ha lavorato<\/em>, so <em>ha dovuto lavorare<\/em>. With <em>essere<\/em>, the participle of the modal agrees with the subject: <em>Caterina \u00e8 dovuta partire<\/em>, <em>le ragazze sono volute restare<\/em>. In everyday speech many Italians simplify everything to <em>avere<\/em> (<em>ho dovuto andare<\/em>); it is widely heard, but the auxiliary-of-the-infinitive form is the one expected in writing and exams.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-focus-aux\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p>\ud83d\udd0d <strong>One safe rule.<\/strong> Ask &#8220;which auxiliary would the infinitive use alone?&#8221; and give the same one to the modal. <em>Partire \u2192 \u00e8 partito \u2192 \u00e8 dovuto partire<\/em>. Follow the infinitive and you are never wrong with the italian modal verbs, no matter how the sentence is built.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"avere-forced\">When avere is forced<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is one group where the italian modal verbs always take <em>avere<\/em>, even though the verb after them would take <em>essere<\/em> on its own. If the infinitive is a linking verb like <em>essere<\/em>, <em>diventare<\/em>, <em>sembrare<\/em> or <em>restare<\/em> and a description follows it (an adjective, a noun, a participle), the modal switches back to <em>avere<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ha dovuto essere molto difficile per loro.<br><em>It must have been very hard for them.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Non abbiamo voluto sembrare scortesi con il meccanico.<br><em>We didn&#8217;t mean to seem rude to the mechanic.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Elena ha potuto diventare responsabile della redazione.<br><em>Elena was able to become head of the editorial office.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>The same goes for passive constructions: the modal takes <em>avere<\/em>. <em>Non ha voluto essere aiutata<\/em> (&#8220;she wouldn&#8217;t be helped&#8221;), <em>tutte le pratiche hanno potuto essere chiuse in tempo<\/em> (&#8220;all the files could be closed in time&#8221;). So the full picture: follow the infinitive&#8217;s auxiliary, except when the infinitive is essere\/sembrare\/diventare + complement or a passive, where <em>avere<\/em> always wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"clitics\">Pronoun placement: lo devo fare or devo farlo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With the italian modal verbs plus an infinitive, an object pronoun has two legal homes: before the modal, or attached to the end of the infinitive. Both are correct and both are common.<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lo devo fare oggi. = Devo farlo oggi.<br><em>I have to do it today.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Glielo devo dire. = Devo dirglielo.<br><em>I have to tell it to him.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Ci possiamo tornare domani. = Possiamo tornarci domani.<br><em>We can go back there tomorrow.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>Two rules keep this tidy. First, pronouns move as a block: if one clitic goes before the modal, they all do (<em>te ne voglio mandare<\/em>); if one attaches to the infinitive, they all do (<em>voglio mandartene<\/em>). You cannot split them. Second, when the modal takes <em>essere<\/em> in a compound tense, the pronoun must sit on the modal: <em>si \u00e8 potuta alzare<\/em>, not the other way round, while with <em>avere<\/em> both positions stay open (<em>ha potuto alzarsi<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-task-1\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p>\ud83c\udfaf <strong>Mini-task #1.<\/strong> Choose the auxiliary and form the passato prossimo.<\/p>\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pietro ___ (dovere, andare) a Pisa stamattina.<\/li>\n<li>Ieri ___ (io, dovere, lavorare) fino a tardi.<\/li>\n<li>Caterina non ___ (potere, venire) alla riunione.<\/li>\n<li>Le ragazze ___ (volere, restare) ancora un&#8217;ora.<\/li>\n<li>Quella decisione ___ (dovere, essere) difficile.<\/li>\n<li>Non ___ (noi, volere, sembrare) scortesi.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<details><summary><strong>\ud83d\udc49 Show answers<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>1. \u00e8 dovuto andare \u00b7 2. ho dovuto lavorare \u00b7 3. \u00e8 potuta venire \u00b7 4. sono volute restare \u00b7 5. ha dovuto essere (essere + adj \u2192 avere) \u00b7 6. abbiamo voluto sembrare (essere\/sembrare + adj \u2192 avere)<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"polite\">Polite requests: vorrei, potrei, potrebbe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At a counter, in an office, on the phone, the italian modal verbs in the conditional are the politeness engine of Italian. <em>Voglio<\/em> sounds blunt; <em>vorrei<\/em> (&#8220;I would like&#8221;) is the standard polite form. <em>Posso<\/em> asks permission; <em>potrei<\/em> and the formal <em>potrebbe<\/em> soften it further.<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vorrei un&#8217;informazione sul treno per Lucca, grazie.<br><em>I&#8217;d like some information about the train to Lucca, thanks.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Potrei lasciare la bici qui mentre faccio la spesa?<br><em>Could I leave the bike here while I do the shopping?<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Scusi, potrebbe controllare anche i freni?<br><em>Excuse me, could you also check the brakes?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>The spoken imperfetto is the casual cousin: <em>volevo un caff\u00e8<\/em> at the bar is a polite present request, not a past tense. Keep <em>vorrei\/potrei\/potrebbe<\/em> for writing and formal speech, <em>volevo<\/em> for relaxed everyday exchanges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"regret\">Regret and advice: avrei dovuto, dovevo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To say what should have happened, the italian modal verbs use the conditional perfect or, in speech, the imperfetto. <em>Avrei dovuto avvisarti<\/em> = &#8220;I should have warned you&#8221;; the colloquial <em>dovevo avvisarti<\/em> carries the same regret in conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Avrei dovuto prenotare il meccanico la settimana scorsa.<br><em>I should have booked the mechanic last week.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Potevi dirmelo prima, ti aspettavo in libreria.<br><em>You could have told me earlier, I was waiting for you at the bookshop.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Caterina avrebbe voluto finire il vestito, ma non ha avuto tempo.<br><em>Caterina would have liked to finish the dress, but she didn&#8217;t have time.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>For advice about the present, <em>dovresti<\/em> (&#8220;you should&#8221;) and <em>potresti<\/em> (&#8220;you could&#8221;) are the everyday tools: <em>dovresti far controllare la macchina<\/em>, <em>potresti chiedere a Pietro<\/em>. These conditional forms of the italian modal verbs are softer than a bare imperative and far more common in real conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Negation deserves a final note. <em>Non devo<\/em> is &#8220;I don&#8217;t have to&#8221; (no obligation), while &#8220;I must not&#8221; is usually <em>non posso<\/em> or a stronger <em>non devo assolutamente<\/em>: <em>non devi venire<\/em> means &#8220;you needn&#8217;t come&#8221;, not &#8220;you are forbidden to come&#8221;. This gap between English and the italian modal verbs catches learners constantly, so read negative modal sentences twice before trusting the first translation that comes to mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cheat-sheet\">Cheat sheet: italian modal verbs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One table, the whole system. Keep it open while you build your next sentence with a modal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table>\n<thead><tr><th>Question<\/th><th>Answer<\/th><th>Example<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr><td>The four modals<\/td><td>dovere, potere, volere, sapere (= know how to)<\/td><td>devo, posso, voglio, so + infinitive<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>&#8220;Can&#8221; = skill<\/td><td>sapere<\/td><td>so guidare<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>&#8220;Can&#8221; = circumstance<\/td><td>potere<\/td><td>posso entrare<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Passato prossimo, normal<\/td><td>avere<\/td><td>ho dovuto lavorare<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Infinitive takes essere<\/td><td>essere (modal agrees)<\/td><td>\u00e8 dovuta partire<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>essere\/sembrare + adj, or passive<\/td><td>avere always<\/td><td>ha dovuto essere difficile<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Pronoun position<\/td><td>before modal or on infinitive<\/td><td>lo devo fare = devo farlo<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Polite request<\/td><td>conditional<\/td><td>vorrei, potrei, potrebbe<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Regret<\/td><td>conditional perfect \/ imperfetto<\/td><td>avrei dovuto, dovevo<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mistakes\">Three common mistakes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Three slips with the italian modal verbs flag a B1 sentence as written by a learner. Fixing them is fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mistake 1.<\/strong> Using <em>potere<\/em> for a learned skill. Wrong: <em>Non posso nuotare<\/em> when you mean you never learned. Correct: <em>Non so nuotare<\/em>. <em>Non posso nuotare<\/em> means the pool is closed or the doctor forbade it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mistake 2.<\/strong> Always using <em>avere<\/em> in the passato prossimo. Wrong (in writing): <em>Ho dovuto andare a Pisa<\/em>. Preferred: <em>Sono dovuto andare a Pisa<\/em>, because <em>andare<\/em> takes <em>essere<\/em>. The all-<em>avere<\/em> form is tolerated in speech, not in careful writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mistake 3.<\/strong> Splitting the clitic block. Wrong: <em>Lo voglio dirti<\/em>. Correct: <em>Te lo voglio dire<\/em> or <em>Voglio dirtelo<\/em>. The pronouns travel together, either all before the modal or all on the infinitive.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-task-2\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p>\ud83c\udfaf <strong>Mini-task #2.<\/strong> Fix or confirm each sentence.<\/p>\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Non posso parlare francese, non l&#8217;ho mai studiato.<\/li>\n<li>Elena ha dovuto tornare a casa presto.<\/li>\n<li>Lo devo dirti subito.<\/li>\n<li>Pietro \u00e8 potuto restare fino a tardi.<\/li>\n<li>Vorrei un&#8217;informazione, per favore.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<details><summary><strong>\ud83d\udc49 Show answers<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>1. Non so parlare francese (learned skill \u2192 sapere) \u00b7 2. \u00e8 dovuta tornare (tornare \u2192 essere, fem. subject) \u00b7 3. Te lo devo dire \/ Devo dirtelo (clitic block) \u00b7 4. \u2713 correct (restare \u2192 essere) \u00b7 5. \u2713 correct (polite conditional)<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dialog\">Dialog: at the garage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Pietro brings his van to Caterina&#8217;s trusted mechanic in Modena before a delivery run. Watch every modal: obligation, ability, permission, polite request.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-dialog-modal\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Pietro:<\/strong> Buongiorno, devo partire per Lucca domani e il furgone fa un rumore strano. Pu\u00f2 dargli un&#8217;occhiata?<br><em>Good morning, I have to leave for Lucca tomorrow and the van makes a strange noise. Can you take a look?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Caterina:<\/strong> Certo. Sa dirmi da dove viene il rumore, davanti o dietro?<br><em>Of course. Can you tell me where the noise comes from, front or back?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Pietro:<\/strong> Direi davanti. Ieri ho dovuto frenare di colpo e da l\u00ec non vuole pi\u00f9 andare liscio.<br><em>I&#8217;d say the front. Yesterday I had to brake suddenly and since then it won&#8217;t run smoothly anymore.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Caterina:<\/strong> Potrebbero essere i freni. Devo metterlo sul ponte: pu\u00f2 lasciarlo qui un paio d&#8217;ore?<br><em>It could be the brakes. I have to put it on the lift: can you leave it here for a couple of hours?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Pietro:<\/strong> Volevo aspettare, ma se ci vuole tempo torno pi\u00f9 tardi. Prima per\u00f2 devo passare in libreria.<br><em>I wanted to wait, but if it takes time I&#8217;ll come back later. First, though, I have to stop by the bookshop.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Caterina:<\/strong> Faccia pure. Se devo cambiare le pastiglie la chiamo prima di procedere, cos\u00ec pu\u00f2 decidere lei.<br><em>Go ahead. If I have to change the pads I&#8217;ll call you before proceeding, so you can decide.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Pietro:<\/strong> Perfetto. Mi raccomando, domani alle sette devo essere gi\u00e0 in strada.<br><em>Perfect. Please remember, tomorrow at seven I have to be on the road already.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Caterina:<\/strong> Non si preoccupi, sar\u00e0 pronto. Avrei voluto darle un preventivo subito, ma prima devo vedere i pezzi.<br><em>Don&#8217;t worry, it&#8217;ll be ready. I would have liked to give you a quote right away, but first I have to see the parts.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Count the modals: <em>devo, pu\u00f2, sa dirmi, ho dovuto, vuole, potrebbero, devo, pu\u00f2, volevo, ci vuole, devo, devo, pu\u00f2, devo essere, avrei voluto, devo<\/em>. Obligation, ability, permission, polite conditional, regret: a single garage visit exercises the whole italian modal verbs system.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-task-3\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p>\ud83c\udfaf <strong>Mini-challenge.<\/strong> Describe a real errand in five sentences using each of the italian modal verbs at least once: one obligation (<em>dovere<\/em>), one permission (<em>potere<\/em>), one skill (<em>sapere<\/em>), one desire (<em>volere<\/em>), one polite request (<em>vorrei<\/em> or <em>potrebbe<\/em>). Read it out loud once.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"audio\">Audio: modal verbs in context<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Listen and repeat. Each clip runs the six persons of one modal in the present and then in the passato prossimo, so you hear the auxiliary switch in real speech. The last clip is a short dialogue that strings the italian modal verbs together at conversational speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/modali-esempi-dovere.mp3\" preload=\"false\"><\/audio><figcaption>Dovere: presente and passato prossimo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/modali-esempi-potere.mp3\" preload=\"false\"><\/audio><figcaption>Potere: presente and passato prossimo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/modali-esempi-volere.mp3\" preload=\"false\"><\/audio><figcaption>Volere: presente and passato prossimo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/modali-esempi-sapere.mp3\" preload=\"false\"><\/audio><figcaption>Sapere: presente and passato prossimo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/modali-dialogo.mp3\" preload=\"false\"><\/audio><figcaption>Short dialogue with the four modals.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"quiz\">Test your understanding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The quiz below drills the italian modal verbs: forms, potere vs sapere, auxiliary choice, clitic placement. Take it after the cheat sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-quiz-modal\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n        <div class=\"wpProQuiz_content\" id=\"wpProQuiz_141\">\n                    <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_time_limit\">\n            <div class=\"time\">Time limit: <span>0<\/span><\/div>\n            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_progress\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_checkPage\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <h4 class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">Quiz-summary<\/h4>\n\n            <p>\n                <span>0<\/span> of 2 questions completed            <\/p>\n\n            <p>Questions:<\/p>\n\n            <div style=\"margin-bottom: 20px;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_box\">\n                <ol>\n                                            <li>1<\/li>\n                                            <li>2<\/li>\n                                    <\/ol>\n                <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n\n            \n            <input type=\"button\" name=\"endQuizSummary\" value=\"Finish quiz\"\n                   class=\"wpProQuiz_button\">\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_infopage\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <h4>Information<\/h4>\n\n            \n            <input type=\"button\" name=\"endInfopage\" value=\"Finish quiz\"\n                   class=\"wpProQuiz_button\">\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_text\">\n            <p>\n                <p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">LOADING QUIZ&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n            <\/p>\n\n            \n            <div>\n                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_button\" type=\"button\" value=\"Start quiz\"\n                       name=\"startQuiz\">\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_lock\">\n            <p>\n                You have already completed the quiz before. Hence you can not start it again.            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_loadQuiz\">\n            <p>\n                Quiz is loading...            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_startOnlyRegisteredUser\">\n            <p>\n                \n    <div class=\"dante-quiz-login-box\">\n        <h2 class=\"dante-quiz-login-badge has-text-align-center\">Free Italian Quiz<\/h2>\n        <br>\n        <h3 class=\"dante-quiz-login-title has-text-align-center\">\"Italian Modal Verbs: Dovere, Potere, Volere, Sapere (B1)\"<\/h3>\n        <p class=\"has-text-align-left\">\n            Sign up for free to try this quiz and get early access to new Italian lessons before anyone else.\n        <\/p>\n        \n        <div class=\"dante-quiz-social-buttons\">\n                <div class=\"dante-login-form\">\n        <div class=\"dante-social-btns\">\n            <a href=\"\/eng\/wp-login.php?loginSocial=google&redirect=%2Feng%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17106\" class=\"dante-social-btn\">\n                <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path fill=\"#4285f4\" d=\"M22.56 12.25c0-.78-.07-1.53-.2-2.25H12v4.26h5.92c-.26 1.37-1.04 2.53-2.21 3.31v2.77h3.57c2.08-1.92 3.28-4.74 3.28-8.09z\"\/>\n                    <path fill=\"#34a853\" d=\"M12 23c2.97 0 5.46-.98 7.28-2.66l-3.57-2.77c-.98.66-2.23 1.06-3.71 1.06-2.86 0-5.29-1.93-6.16-4.53H2.18v2.84C3.99 20.53 7.7 23 12 23z\"\/>\n                    <path fill=\"#fbbc05\" d=\"M5.84 14.09c-.22-.66-.35-1.36-.35-2.09s.13-1.43.35-2.09V7.07H2.18C1.43 8.55 1 10.22 1 12s.43 3.45 1.18 4.93l2.85-2.22.81-.62z\"\/>\n                    <path fill=\"#ea4335\" d=\"M12 5.38c1.62 0 3.06.56 4.21 1.64l3.15-3.15C17.45 2.09 14.97 1 12 1 7.7 1 3.99 3.47 2.18 7.07l3.66 2.84c.87-2.6 3.3-4.53 6.16-4.53z\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n                Continue with Google            <\/a>\n            <a href=\"\/eng\/wp-login.php?loginSocial=facebook&redirect=%2Feng%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17106\" class=\"dante-social-btn\">\n                <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path fill=\"#1877f2\" d=\"M24 12.073c0-6.627-5.373-12-12-12s-12 5.373-12 12c0 5.99 4.388 10.954 10.125 11.854v-8.385H7.078v-3.47h3.047V9.43c0-3.007 1.792-4.669 4.533-4.669 1.312 0 2.686.235 2.686.235v2.953H15.83c-1.491 0-1.956.925-1.956 1.874v2.25h3.328l-.532 3.47h-2.796v8.385C19.612 23.027 24 18.062 24 12.073z\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n                Continue with Facebook            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"dante-divider\"><span>or<\/span><\/div>\n        \n        <form class=\"dante-auth-form\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"nonce\" value=\"cc91b2bc5b\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"redirect\" value=\"\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17106\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"show_register\" value=\"true\">\n            \n            <!-- HONEYPOT FIELD - Anti-Bot Protection -->\n            <div style=\"position: absolute; 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style=\"display: none;\"\n                            class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">\n                            <span>1<\/span>. Question                        <\/h5>\n\n                        \n                                                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_question\" style=\"margin: 10px 0 0 0;\">\n                            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_question_text\">\n                                <h1 class=\"entry-title\" style=\"text-align: center;\">I verbi modali<\/h1>\n<h1 class=\"entry-title\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Quiz di livello avanzato<\/h1>\n<h1 class=\"entry-title\" style=\"text-align: center;\">esercizio di ripasso<\/h1>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Seleziona le frasi corrette e controlla il tuo punteggio<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Potrebbero essere tutte giuste o tutte sbagliate. Fai attenzione.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n                            <\/div>\n                                                        <ul class=\"wpProQuiz_questionList\" data-question_id=\"489\"\n                                data-type=\"multiple\">\n                                \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"0\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_489\"\n                                                       value=\"1\"> Vorrei invitarvi a cena. Potete farmi sapere?                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"1\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_489\"\n                                                       value=\"2\"> Vi vorrei invitare a cena. Potete mi fare sapere?\r\n<hr \/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"2\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_489\"\n                                                       value=\"3\"> Che regalo ti vorresti ricevere per il tuo compleanno?                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"3\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_489\"\n                                                       value=\"4\"> Che regalo vorresti ricevere per il tuo compleanno?\r\n<hr \/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"4\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_489\"\n                                                       value=\"5\"> Se avessi voluto, avrei corso pi\u00f9 velocemente di te.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"5\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_489\"\n                                                       value=\"6\"> Se fossi voluto, sarei corso pi\u00f9 velocemente di te.\r\n<hr \/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"6\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_489\"\n                                                       value=\"7\"> Avendo preferito studiare medicina, Mario \u00e8 potuto diventare medico.                                             <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"7\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_489\"\n                                                       value=\"8\"> Avendo potuto studiare medicina, Mario \u00e8 preferito diventare medico. \r\n<hr \/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"8\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_489\"\n                                                       value=\"9\"> Non avevamo potuto prepararci in tempo per l&#039;esame e siamo stati bocciati.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"9\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_489\"\n                                                       value=\"10\"> Non ci eravamo potuti preparare in tempo per l'esame e siamo stati bocciati.\r\n<hr \/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"10\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_489\"\n                                                       value=\"11\"> Non ci sarebbe voluto cos\u00ec tanto tempo per arrivare se Laura non avesse voluto fermarsi per fare colazione.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"11\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_489\"\n                                                       value=\"12\"> Non ci avrebbe voluto cos\u00ec tanto tempo per arrivare se Laura non si fosse voluta fermare per fare colazione.\r\n<hr \/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                                                <\/ul>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                    <div class=\"wpProQuiz_response\" style=\"display: none;\">\n                                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_correct\">\n                                                                            <span class=\"wpProQuiz_respone_span\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCorrect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br>\n                                    <p><hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u2611\u00a0Controlla le risposte giuste e continua il quiz.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span class=\"blink_text\" style=\"font-size: 28pt; color: #ff0000;\">\u2193\u2193\u2193<\/span><\/p><\/p>                                <\/div>\n                                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_incorrect\">\n                                                                            <span class=\"wpProQuiz_respone_span\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIncorrect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br>\n                                    <p><hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u2611\u00a0Controlla le risposte giuste e continua il quiz.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span class=\"blink_text\" style=\"font-size: 28pt; color: #ff0000;\">\u2193\u2193\u2193<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        \n                        \n                                                <input type=\"button\" name=\"back\" value=\"Back\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\"\n                               style=\"float: left !important; margin-right: 10px !important; display: none;\">\n                                                <input type=\"button\" name=\"check\" value=\"Check\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\"\n                               style=\"float: right !important; margin-right: 10px !important; display: none;\">\n                        <input type=\"button\" name=\"next\" value=\"Next\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\" style=\"float: right; display: none;\">\n\n                        <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n\n                        \n                    <\/li>\n\n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_listItem\" style=\"display: none;\">\n                        <div\n                            class=\"wpProQuiz_question_page\" style=\"display:none;\" >\n                            Question <span>2<\/span> of <span>2<\/span>                        <\/div>\n                        <h5 style=\"display: none;\"\n                            class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">\n                            <span>2<\/span>. Question                        <\/h5>\n\n                        \n                                                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_question\" style=\"margin: 10px 0 0 0;\">\n                            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_question_text\">\n                                <h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Un po&#8217; pi\u00f9 difficile<\/h1>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Seleziona le frasi corrette e controlla il tuo punteggio<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n                            <\/div>\n                                                        <ul class=\"wpProQuiz_questionList\" data-question_id=\"490\"\n                                data-type=\"multiple\">\n                                \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"0\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_490\"\n                                                       value=\"1\"> Se volessi andarmene a quest&#039;ora, potrei trovarmi bloccato nel traffico.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"1\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_490\"\n                                                       value=\"2\"> Se me ne volessi andare a quest&#039;ora, mi potrei trovare bloccato nel traffico.\r\n                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"2\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_490\"\n                                                       value=\"3\"> Se ne me volessi andarmene a quest'ora, potrei trovarmi bloccato nel traffico.\r\n<hr \/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"3\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_490\"\n                                                       value=\"4\"> Vorresti allenarti con me o preferiresti prepararti per la maratona da sola?\r\n                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"4\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_490\"\n                                                       value=\"5\"> Ti vorresti allenare con me o ti preferiresti preparare per la maratona da sola?\r\n                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"5\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_490\"\n                                                       value=\"6\"> Ti vorresti allenare con me o preferiresti prepararti per la maratona da sola?\r\n<hr \/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"6\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_490\"\n                                                       value=\"7\"> Volendo, potresti vestirti come si deve una volta tanto.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"7\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_490\"\n                                                       value=\"8\"> Volendo, ti potresti vestire come si deve una volta tanto.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"8\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_141_490\"\n                                                       value=\"9\"> Volendoti, potresti vestire come si deve una volta tanto.\r\n<hr \/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                                                <\/ul>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                    <div class=\"wpProQuiz_response\" style=\"display: none;\">\n                                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_correct\">\n                                                                            <span class=\"wpProQuiz_respone_span\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCorrect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br>\n                                    <p><hr \/>\n<p>\u2611\u00a0Controlla le risposte giuste e finisci il quiz.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span class=\"blink_text\" style=\"font-size: 28pt; color: #ff0000;\">\u2193\u2193\u2193<\/span><\/p><\/p>                                <\/div>\n                                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_incorrect\">\n                                                                            <span class=\"wpProQuiz_respone_span\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIncorrect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br>\n                                    <p><hr \/>\n<p>\u2611\u00a0Controlla le risposte giuste e finisci il quiz.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span class=\"blink_text\" style=\"font-size: 28pt; color: #ff0000;\">\u2193\u2193\u2193<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        \n                        \n                                                <input type=\"button\" name=\"back\" value=\"Back\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\"\n                               style=\"float: left !important; margin-right: 10px !important; display: none;\">\n                                                <input type=\"button\" name=\"check\" value=\"Check\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\"\n                               style=\"float: right !important; margin-right: 10px !important; display: none;\">\n                        <input type=\"button\" name=\"next\" value=\"Next\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\" style=\"float: right; display: none;\">\n\n                        <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n\n                        \n                    <\/li>\n\n                            <\/ol>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n            window.wpProQuizInitList = window.wpProQuizInitList || [];\n\n            window.wpProQuizInitList.push({\n                id: '#wpProQuiz_141',\n                init: {\n                    quizId: 141,\n                    mode: 2,\n                    globalPoints: 13,\n                    timelimit: 0,\n                    resultsGrade: [0],\n                    bo: 7560,\n                    qpp: 0,\n                    catPoints: [13],\n                    formPos: 0,\n                    lbn: \"Finish quiz\",\n                    json: {\"489\":{\"type\":\"multiple\",\"id\":489,\"catId\":0,\"points\":[1,0,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,1,1,0],\"correct\":[1,0,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,1,1,0]},\"490\":{\"type\":\"multiple\",\"id\":490,\"catId\":0,\"points\":[1,1,0,1,0,1,1,1,0],\"correct\":[1,1,0,1,0,1,1,1,0]}}                }\n            });\n        <\/script>\n        \n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"font-size:36px;color:#ab2227;margin-top:50px;margin-bottom:10px;letter-spacing:0.3em;font-family:Georgia,serif\">\u00a7<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Six questions about the italian modal verbs come up in every B1 cohort. The answers below draw on real classroom usage and on the Crusca note <a href=\"https:\/\/accademiadellacrusca.it\/it\/consulenza\/ausiliare-con-i-verbi-servili\/14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ausiliare con i verbi servili<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-1\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What are the Italian modal verbs?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The core modals (verbi servili) are dovere (must, have to), potere (can, may), and volere (want). Sapere joins them when it means to know how to: so guidare = I can drive. They are all followed directly by an infinitive with no preposition: devo partire, posso entrare, voglio restare, so nuotare. Dovere = obligation\/necessity, potere = possibility\/permission, volere = will\/desire, sapere = learned ability.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-2\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Do I say ho dovuto or sono dovuto in the passato prossimo?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Take the auxiliary the infinitive would use on its own. Lavorare takes avere, so ho dovuto lavorare. Andare takes essere, so sono dovuto andare (and the participle agrees: Caterina e dovuta andare). With essere the modal participle agrees with the subject. In casual speech many Italians use avere for everything (ho dovuto andare); it is understood but not the form expected in writing or exams.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-3\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is the difference between potere and sapere for can?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Sapere is an ability you learned: so guidare, so nuotare, so cucinare. Potere is possibility or permission from circumstances: posso guidare (the car is free, I am allowed), non posso nuotare (the pool is closed). Test: if can means know how to, use sapere; if it means be allowed to or be in a position to, use potere. Mixing them changes the meaning, not just the register.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-4\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Where does the pronoun go: lo devo fare or devo farlo?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Both are correct with the italian modal verbs. The pronoun can sit before the modal (lo devo fare, glielo devo dire) or attach to the infinitive (devo farlo, devo dirglielo). The pronouns move as a block: all before the modal or all on the infinitive, never split. Exception: when the modal takes essere in a compound tense, the pronoun must go on the modal (si e potuta alzare).<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-5\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Why is it ha dovuto essere and not e dovuto essere?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>When the infinitive is a linking verb (essere, sembrare, diventare, restare) plus a description, the modal always takes avere: ha dovuto essere difficile, non abbiamo voluto sembrare scortesi. The same applies to passive constructions: non ha voluto essere aiutata. So the infinitive-auxiliary rule has this one fixed exception where avere always wins.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-6\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How do I make polite requests with modal verbs?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Use the conditional. Vorrei (I would like) replaces the blunt voglio; potrei (could I) and the formal potrebbe (could you) soften potere. Vorrei un&#8217;informazione, potrei lasciare la bici qui?, potrebbe controllare i freni? In casual speech the imperfetto volevo un caffe is a polite present request, not a past tense. Keep vorrei\/potrei\/potrebbe for writing and formal speech.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"related\">Related guides<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Three guides that pair with the italian modal verbs, plus an institutional reference on auxiliary choice.<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-can-could-might\/\">Italian Can, Could, Might<\/a>: potere across all tenses, possibility and permission.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-must-should-ought-to\/\">Italian Must, Should, Ought To<\/a>: dovere across tenses, obligation and advice.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-pronouns-modal-verbs\/\">Italian Pronouns with Modal Verbs<\/a>: the full clitic-placement rules with modals.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/accademiadellacrusca.it\/it\/consulenza\/ausiliare-con-i-verbi-servili\/14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Accademia della Crusca: Ausiliare con i verbi servili<\/a>: institutional note on auxiliary choice with modals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Master Italian modal verbs dovere, potere, volere, and sapere with clear conjugations, real examples, idioms, and a practice quiz. Complete A2 to B1 guide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10020,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1865],"tags":[414,419,1490,415,417,986,219,416],"class_list":["post-17106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-b1","tag-dovere","tag-italian-modal-verbs","tag-italian-reflexive-verbs","tag-potere","tag-sapere","tag-verbi-modali","tag-verbi-riflessivi","tag-volere","no-featured-image-padding","pmpro-has-access"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10020"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17106"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17106\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60164,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17106\/revisions\/60164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17106"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17106"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}