When to use the Italian modal verbs ‘dovere,’ ‘potere,’ and ‘volere’?

We use the Italian modal verbs dovere (meaning must), potere (meaning can), and volere (meaning want) to show that some action is necessary, possible, desired. In Italian, we call these verbi servili (meaning serving verbs) to underline that they provide help to other verbs.

• Dovere (meaning must, have to) shows that another action is necessary:

  Devo andare a lavoro oggi.

  Translation: Today I have to go to work.

• Potere (meaning can) shows that another action is possible:

  Che bella giornata! Oggi possiamo fare una passeggiata.

  Translation: What a beautiful day! Today we can take a walk.

• Volere (meaning want) shows that another action is desired:

  Voglio preparare una torta per il compleanno di mia zia.

  Translation: I want to bake a cake for my aunt's birthday.

This post is the second in our series on Italian modal verbs. In the first part, we talked about how to build sentences around Italian modal verbs. In this part, we’re talking more about meaning: when do we use these verbs and what do they mean when we use them! You can think of these verbs as the three fairy godmother verbs! Each gives a different gift!

Keep reading to find out about their enchantments! 🪄

Use dovere to express necessity or obligation or to give advice. Depending on the context, dovere means “have to,” “need to,” “must,” and even “ought to.”

So if dovere is a fairy godmother, what is its gift?

Let’s go through each of its three main uses:

1. Using dovere to express necessity

   Like “need to” and “have to,” dovere is used when an action is necessary.

   Dobbiamo fare benzina.

   Translation: We have to / need to fill up the tank.

2. Using dovere to express obligation

   You can use dovere to express that someone is legally or morally bound to do something, even if technically they could get away without doing it.

   Ricorda che devi rispettare lo stop.

   Translation: Remember that you must respect the stop sign.

3. Using dovere to give advice

   Dovereis also used to give strong advice.

   Devi stare più attento quando attraversi.

   Translation: You have to be more careful when crossing. 😥

Use potere to express (im)possibility or (in)ability, to make suggestions, to give or deny permission, or to make requests. Depending on the context, potere can therefore mean “to be able to,” “to have the power to,” “can,” “be allowed to,” or “may.”

So if potere is a fairy godmother, what’s its gift?

Let’s look at its main uses!

• Using potere to express possibility or ability

  When potere expresses the ability to do something, it is the equivalent to the English “can” or “to be able to.”

  • Marcello e Lara possono venire qui alle sette.

    Translation: Marcello and Lara can come here at seven.
  • Finalmente quest’estate Marta può andare in vacanza in Italia.

    Translation: Finally this summer Marta is able to go on vacation to Italy.

  When used in the negative form, potere is the equivalent of “cannot” or “not able to.”

  • Mi spiace, ma non posso uscire stasera perché è il compleanno di mia nonna.

    Translation: I'm sorry, but I can't go out tonight because it’s my grandma’s birthday.
  • Oggi gli studenti non possono andare a scuola perché c’è lo sciopero degli autobus.

    Translation: Today students cannot go to school because there is a bus strike.

• Using potere to make suggestions or proposals

  Potere can be used to propose plans and make suggestions.

  Domani possiamo andare al mare.

  Translation: We can go to the beach tomorrow.

  Often potere appears in the conditional mood to emphasize even more that what we are proposing is a feasible option:

  • Domani potremmo andare al mare.

    Translation: Tomorrow we could go to the beach.
  • Quest’estate potresti dipingere questa parete di un colore diverso.

    Translation: This summer you could paint this wall a different color.

• Using potere to give permission or make a prohibition

  Potere is used to ask for and give permission and, in its negative form, it is used to express prohibition.

  • • Mi scusi, questo taxi è libero? Possiamo salire?

      Translation: Excuse me, is this taxi free? Can we get in?
    • Sì certo, è libero, potete accomodarvi.

      Translation: Yes, of course, it’s free, you can take a seat.
  • Non si può sorpassare a destra.

    Translation: You cannot pass on the right.

• Using potere to make requests or politely ask for something

  Use potere in questions to request something or politely ask for something.

  • Posso avere un bicchiere d’acqua, per piacere?

    Translation: Can I have a glass of water, please?
  • Mi scusi, mi può dire che ore sono?

    Translation: Excuse me, can you tell me what time it is?

  If you want to sound extra polite, ask questions with potere in the present conditional, which transforms the examples above as follows:

  • Potrei avere un bicchiere d’acqua, per piacere?

    Translation: Could I have a glass of water, please?
  • Mi scusi, mi potrebbe dire che ore sono?

    Translation: Excuse me, could you tell me what time it is?

Like the English “to want,” volere is used to express all forms of will: desires, wishes, the intention to do or not do something. In addition, it is used to request, demand, or command something.

So if volere is a fairy godmother, what is its gift?

In Italian, there are two main ways to express desires, intentions, or requests with volere:

• Voglio + infinitive, with the present indicative

  Voglio is the present indicative io (meaning I) form of volere. In Italian, saying "I want" this directly, though, sounds somewhat bold, so it is mostly used to express the strong intention to do something or a wish/desire in an informal setting.

  • Oggi voglio comprare un libro nuovo.

    Translation: Today I want to buy a new book.
  • Voglio proprio andare al cinema stasera, chi viene con me?

    Translation: I really wanna go to the cinema tonight, who's going with me?

• Vorrei + infinitive, with the present conditional

  It is very common to use vorrei (meaning I would like), the present conditional of volere, rather than the stronger voglio (meaning I want). Compare these two sentences to get a sense of the difference:

  • Present indicative:

    Per il suo compleanno, Marta vuole andare a Roma.

    Translation: For her birthday, Marta wants to go to Rome.

  • Present conditional:

    Per il suo compleanno, Marta vorrebbe andare a Roma.

    Translation: For her birthday, Marta would like to go to Rome.

Although both sentences are grammatically correct, it sounds less strong to express desires/intentions by using the conditional of volere, like we did in sentence (b).

So what should you remember about when to use these different Italian modal verbs?

• Dovere is used to talk about necessity.

  • Use dovere to express the need, the obligation to do something, and to give advice.

  • Don’t forget the difference between dovere (meaning external necessity) and avere bisogno di (meaning internal necessity).

• Potere is used to talk about possibility.

  • Use potere to talk about things you can do and are able to do or, in the negative form, the things you cannot do. You can also use it to suggest or propose something.

  • Don’t forget the differences between potere (meaning external cause), riuscire a (meaning physical or mental capability), and sapere (meaning knowledge).

• Volere is used to talk about wishes and desires. There are two ways to express a wish with volere:

  1. voglio + infinitive

  2. vorrei + infinitive (use this to sound polite!)

Ready to learn more? Head to the last post in our series on modals: non-modal uses of dovere, potere, and volere, or head backwards to learn about how to structure Italian sentences with modal verbs!

Ready to practice how to use dovere, potere, and volere? 💪 🧠 Click the link!