Modal verbs express ability, desire, or obligation. The three essential Italian modal verbs are potere (can / to be able to), volere (to want), and dovere (must / to have to). They are always followed by an infinitive — the base form of another verb ending in -are, -ere, or -ire. The infinitive never changes. For example: Posso parlare. (I can speak.) Voglio mangiare. (I want to eat.) Devo studiare. (I must study.)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | posso |
| tu | puoi |
| lui / lei / Lei | può |
| noi | possiamo |
| voi | potete |
| loro | possono |
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | voglio |
| tu | vuoi |
| lui / lei / Lei | vuole |
| noi | vogliamo |
| voi | volete |
| loro | vogliono |
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | devo |
| tu | devi |
| lui / lei / Lei | deve |
| noi | dobbiamo |
| voi | dovete |
| loro | devono |
Modal verbs are always followed by an infinitive: modal + infinitive (no 'to' in Italian). To negate, place non directly before the modal: Non posso venire. (I can't come.) Potere is also used for polite requests: Può ripetere, per favore? (Can you repeat, please? — formal)
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Potere – All Persons
10 questions
Potere – Ability vs Permission
10 questions
Potere – Completing Sentences
10 questions
Potere – English to Italian
10 questions
Potere – Polite Requests
10 questions
Potere – Negative Forms
10 questions
Potere + Infinitive
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Potere – Question Forms
10 questions
Potere – Fill in the Blank
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Potere – Group 1 Review
10 questions
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Volere – All Persons
10 questions
Volere – Meaning and Usage
10 questions
Volere – Completing Sentences
10 questions
Volere – Translation Practice
10 questions
Volere – Negatives and Questions
10 questions
Volere + Noun vs Volere + Infinitive
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Volere in Context
10 questions
Volere – Persons in Context
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Volere – Fill in the Blank
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Volere in Context – Group 2 Review
10 questions
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Dovere – io and tu Forms
10 questions
Dovere – lui/lei and noi Forms
10 questions
Dovere – voi and loro Forms
10 questions
Dovere – Choosing the Right Modal
10 questions
Dovere in Complete Sentences
10 questions
Dovere – English to Italian
10 questions
Dovere – Negative Forms
10 questions
Dovere – Obligation Contexts
10 questions
Dovere – Fill in the Blank
10 questions
Potere, Volere, Dovere – Group 3 Review
10 questions
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Potere vs Volere – Can vs Want
10 questions
Potere vs Dovere – Can vs Must
10 questions
Volere vs Dovere – Want vs Must
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All Three Modals in Context
10 questions
Modal Verbs – English to Italian Translation
10 questions
Non posso vs Non voglio vs Non devo
10 questions
Modal Verbs in Questions – Puoi? Vuoi? Devi?
10 questions
Polite Requests with Modals
10 questions
Modal Verbs in Real-Life Contexts
10 questions
Modal Verbs – Group 4 Review
10 questions
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Modal Verbs Mastery – All Three
10 questions
Modal Verbs – Find the Error
10 questions
Object Pronouns with Modal Verbs
10 questions
Modal Verbs – Advanced Translation
10 questions
Modal Verbs in Dialogue
10 questions
Modals in Real Life – Scenario 1 (Travel & Culture)
10 questions
Modals in Real Life – Scenario 2 (School & Work)
10 questions
Modal Verbs – Comprehensive Mixed
10 questions
Modal Verbs – Final Practice
10 questions
Modal Verbs – Final Challenge
10 questions