Introduction to Italian/Lesson 11
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Can and must are covered in this section.
Potere[edit | edit source]
The infinitive potere is an irregular verb meaning can or may. Technically it is an auxiliary verb and so must be paired with an infinitive. Per esempio:
Io posso mangiare una foccacina se ho voglia (I can eat a scone if I want to).
Potere is, as previously stated, and irregular verb. Here is a conjugation chart:
| Complete Word | |
| Infinitive | potere |
| First Person | posso |
| Second Person | puoi |
| Third Person | può |
| First Person (Plural) |
possiamo |
| Second Person (Plural) |
potete |
| Third Person (Plural) |
possono |
Dovere[edit | edit source]
Dovere is an irregular verb meaning must or have (have as in I have to...). Like potere it is an auxiliary verb used with an infinitive:
Io devo mangiare una foccacina (I must eat a scone)
Io devo prendere del tè con la mia foccacina (I must have some tea with my scone)
Here is the conjugation chart for dovere:
| Complete Word | |
| Infinitive | dovere |
| First Person | devo or debbo |
| Second Person | devi |
| Third Person | deve |
| First Person (Plural) |
dobbiamo |
| Second Person (Plural) |
dovete |
| Third Person (Plural) |
devono or debbono |
NB. When dovere is used in a conditional tense it means should or should have.
