Introduction to Italian/Lesson 11
Can and must are covered in this section.
Potere
editThe 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
editDovere 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.
