Here’s an opportunity to test your understanding of the Italian modal verbs dovere, potere, and volere. You’ll find all the information you need to complete this quiz in my recent series of articles on the topic. Links are given at the beginning of each section. Have fun, and please post your answers in the comments section, even if you only manage a few of them.
Plinio Nomellini, Lo Sciopero, 1889. Wikipedia
A. dovere = to have to
relevant articles: I Must Study Italian and I Should Have Studied Italian
Translate the following sentences into English:
1. uno di questi giorni dovremo lavare la macchina
2. Mario ha dovuto cancellare l’appuntamento dal dentista
3. sarei dovuta arrivare alle sette, ma c’era lo sciopero dei treni
4. temo che Marco e Giulia debbano anticipare il rientro dalle vacanze
5. pensavo che tu dovessi restare in ospedale più a lungo
Translate the following sentences into Italian:
6. you (singular) must remember to phone Giorgio
7. I should have revised the Italian modal verbs
8. it’s a pity that Mario had to go back to work
B. potere = to be able to
relevant articles: I Could Study Italian and I Could Have Studied Italian
Translate the following sentences into English:
1. potreste comprare del pane, per piacere?
2. non ho potuto portare Annalisa alla festa perché si è rotta la macchina
3. saremmo potuti arrivare prima se non ci fosse stato lo sciopero dei treni
4. Maria potrà restare solo per un’oretta
5. ci farebbe molto piacere se tu potessi andare a visitare il nonno
Translate the following sentences into Italian:
6. could you (singular) phone me later?
7. if only I could buy a house near the sea!
8. Maria and Luisa weren’t able to come because they had troubles with their car
“l’anno scorso volevamo andare in Sicilia”. Duomo di Monreale, Sicilia
C. volere = to want to
relevant articles: I Want to Study Italian and I Would Have Liked To Study Italian
Translate the following sentences into English:
1. Luisa non vuole venire al ristorante perché non si sente bene
2. avrei voluto prendere il treno delle otto, ma ho fatto tardi in ufficio
3. l’anno scorso volevamo andare in Sicilia
4. credevo che tu volessi vedere la partita stasera
5. pensi che Luisa voglia cenare con noi?
Translate the following sentences into Italian:
6. Luisa wanted to try the ice cream from the new bar
7. Maria e Giorgio would have liked to go Sicily, but their son was unwell
8. we would like to know if there are some tickets left for the concert (two possible translations for ‘we would like’)
I’ll publish the answers at the beginning of next week.
Buon fine-settimana a tutti!
Comments:
Marty Pulvers:
A small group of us meet weekly to study and speak Italian, and
your offerings, such as the modal verb series, gets a good, practical workout. Thank you.
Ann:
Dovere: 1. One of these days we must wash the car. 2. Mario had to cancel his appointment with the dentist. 3. I would have arrived at seven but there was a train strike. 4. I fear M and G must anticipate the return from their vacation?? 5. I thought that you had to stay in the hospital longer. 6. Devi ricordare telefonare a G. 7. Ho dovuto rivedere i verbi modali italiani? 8. È un peccato che M sia dovuto tornare al lavoro.
Ann:
POTERE: 1. Could you buy some bread, please? 2. I could not take A to the party because the car is broken. 3. We could have arrived before/earlier(?) if there had not been a train strike. 4. M will be able to stay only for an hour or so. 5. It would make us very happy if you could visit the grandfather. 6. Puoi telefonarmi più tardi? 7. Se solo potrei comprare una casa vicino al mare. 8. M e L non sono potuti venire perché hanno avuto i problemi con la loro macchina.
Ann:
VOLERE: 1. L does not want to come to the restaurant because she does not feel good. 2. I would have wanted to take the 8:00 train but I was late at work. 3. Last year we wanted to go to Sicily. 4. I thought you wanted to see the game tonight. 5. You think L wants to eat dinner with us? 6. L ha voluto provare il gelato dal bar nuovo. 7. M e G sarebbero voluti andare a Sicilia ma il loro figlio era malato 8. Vorremmo sapere se ci sono alcuni biglietti per il spectacolo.
paolo minotto:
A.
1. uno di questi giorno dovremo lavare la macchina
One of these days we should wash the car.
2. Mario ha dovuto cancellare l’appuntamento dal dentista
Mario had to cancel the appointment with the dentist.
3. sarei dovuta arrivare alle sette, ma c’era lo sciopero dei treni
I should have arrived at 7, but there was a train strike.
4. temo che Marco e Giulia debbano anticipare il rientro dalle vacanze
I’m afraid that Marco and Giolia should move up the return from their vacation.
5. pensavo che tu dovessi restare in ospedale più a lungo
I thought that you had to stay in the hospital longer.
6. you (singular) must remember to phone Giorgio
Tu devi ricordare a telefonare Giorgio.
7. I should have revised the Italian modal verbs
Avrei dovuto rivedere i modali verbi italiani
8. it’s a pity that Mario had to go back to work
È un peccato che Mario abbia dovuto tornare a lavoro
B.
1. potreste comprare del pane, per piacere?
Could you buy some bread, please?
2. non ho potuto portare Annalisa alla festa perché si è rotta la macchina
I couldn’t bring Annalisa to the part because my car broke down.
3. saremmo potuti arrivare prima se non ci fosse stato lo sciopero dei treni
We could have arrived early if there had not been a train strike.
4. Maria potrà restare solo per un’oretta
Maria will be able to stay only for an hour.
5. ci farebbe molto piacere se tu potessi andare a visitare il nonno
It would please us a lot if you could go and visit your grandfather.
6. could you (singular) phone me later?
Mi potresti telefonare più tardi?
7. if only I could buy a house near the sea!
Se solo io potessi comprare una casa vicino al mare!
8. Maria and Luisa weren’t able to come because they had troubles with their car
Maria e Luisa non potevano venire perché avevano dei guai con la macchina
C.
1. Luisa non vuole venire al ristorante perché non si sente bene
Luisa doesn’t want to come to the restaurant because she doesn’t feel good
2. avrei voluto prendere il treno delle otto, ma ho fatto tardi in ufficio
I would have wanted to take the 8’oclock train, but i was late in the office.
3. l’anno scorso volevamo andare in Sicilia
Last year we wanted to go to Sicily
4. credevo che tu volessi vedere la partita stasera
I believed that you wanted to see the game tonight
5. pensi che Luisa voglia cenare con noi?
Do you think Luisa wants to dine with us?
8. Luisa wanted to try the ice cream from the new bar
Luisa voleva provare il gelato dal nuovo bar
7. Maria e Giorgio would have liked to go Sicily, but their son was unwell
Maria e Giorgio saremmo piaciuti andare in Sicilia, ma il figlio stesse male
8. we would like to know if there are some tickets left for the concert (two possible translations for ‘we would like’)
Vorremmo sapere se ci siano rimasti dei biglietti per il concerto
Volevamo sapere se ci sono rimasti dei biglietti per il concerto
Rita Kostopoulos:
GRAZIE PER IL BEL RIPASSO DEI TEMPI. MOLTO UTILE PER LE MIE CLASSI
Vi auguro un magnifico fine-settimana
Con gratitudine ,
Rita
Jacqui:
Dovere:
1. One of these days we will have to wash the car.
2. Maria has had to cancel her dental appointment.
3. I should have arrived at seven but there was a train strike.
4.
5. I thought that you would have to stay in hospital longer.
6. You must remember to telephone Giorgio.
7. Dovrei ripassato i verbi modali Italiani.
8. E un peccato che Mario ha dovuto ritornare al lavoro.
Potere:
1.Could you buy some bread please?
2.I could not bring Annalisa to the party because the car has broken down.
3. We could have arrived before if it had not been for the train strike.
4. Maria will only be able to stay for an hour.
5. We would be very pleased if you could go to visit Grandad.
6. Potresti telefonarmi piu tardi?
7. Se solo potessi comprare una casa vicino al mare!
8. Mario e Luisa non sono potuti venire perche avevano problemi con la loro macchina.
Volere:
1. Luisa doesn’t want to come to the restaurant because she is not feeling well.
2. I would have liked to take the eight o’clock train but I worked late at the office.
3. Last year we wanted to go to Sicily.
4. I thought that you wanted to see the game this evening.
5. Do you think that Luisa would like to eat/dine with us?
6. Luisa voleva provare il gelato dal nuovo bar.
7. Maria e Giorgio avrebbero voluto andare in Sicilia ma loro figlio era indisposto. (o, sarebbero voluti andare?)
8. Voremmo sapere se ci siano dei biglietti per il concerto.
There is nothing like Italian modal verbs for confusing the learner!
Gaye McDermott:
I always like reading this series – interesting cultural information and a great way to practice my Italian. Here are my translation efforts.
Uno di questi giorno dovremo lavare la macchina
One of these days we will have to wash the car.
2. Mario ha dovuto cancellare l’appuntamento dal dentista
Mario had to cancel the appointment for the dentist .
3. sarei dovuta arrivare alle sette, ma c’era lo sciopero dei treni.
I should have arrived at seven but there was a train strike .
4. temo che Marco e Giulia debbano anticipare il rientro dalle vacanze.
I am afraid that Marco and Giulia should bring forward their return from holidays .
5. pensavo che tu dovessi restare in ospedale più a lungo.
I thought that you had to stay in hospital longer. ( Not sure what tense ‘ dovessi’ is. )
Don:
A. dovere
1. One of these days we shall have to wash the car.
2. Mario has had to cancel the dentist’s appointment.
3. I should have arrived at seven, but there was a train strike.
4. I’m afraid Marco and Julia are having to bring forward the return from holiday.
5. I thought that you were having to stay in hospital a while longer.
6. Devi ricordare di telefonare a Giorgio.
7. Avrei dovuto ripassare i verbi modali italiani.
8. È peccato che Mario sia dovuto ritornare al lavoro.
B. potere
1. Could you buy some bread, please?
2. I couldn’t bring Annalisa to the party because the car has boken down.
3. We could have arrived earlier if there hadn’t been the train strike.
4. Maria will only be able to stay for an hour.
5. We would be very pleased if you could go and visit grandfather.
6. Mi potresti telofonare più tardi?
7. Se solo io potessi comprare una casa vicino al mare
8. Maria e Luisa non sono potute venire perché hanno avuto noie con la macchina.
C. volere
1. Luisa doesn’t want to come to the restaurant because she’s not feeling well.
2. I would’ve liked to have taken the 8 o’clock train but I was late at the office.
3. Last year we wanted to go to Sicily.
4. I thought you were wanting to see the game this evening.
5. Do you think Luisa wishes to have dinner with us?
6. Luisa voleva provare il gelato dal nuovo bar.
7. Maria e Giorgio avrebbero voluti andare in Sicilia ma il loro figlio era malato.
8. Vorremmo sapere se ci rimangano dei biglietti per il concerto.
Pam White:
A.
1 One of these days we will have to wash the car.
2 Mario should have cancelled the appointment at the dentist.
3 I should have arrived at 7, but there was a train strike.
4 I’m afraid that Marco and Julia should have anticipated the return from the holidays.
5 I thought that you should have stayed in hospital a bit longer.
6 Devi ricordare telefonare a Giorgio.
7 Avrei dovuto rivedere i verbi modali italiani.
8 E un peccato che Mario ha dovuto tornare all’ lavoro.
B
1 Could you buy some bread, please?
2 I couldn’t bring Annalisa to the party because the car broke down.
3 We could have arrived earlier if it hadn’t been for the train strike.
4 Maria will be able to stay on her own for an hour.
5 It would give us great pleasure if you could go and visit the Grandfather.
6 Potresti telefonarmi piu tardi?
7 Se avessi comprato una casa vicino al mare.
8 Maria e Luisa non potrebbero venire perche hanno avuto difficolta con la loro macchina.
C
1 Luisa doesn’t want to come to the restaurant because she doesn’t feel well.
2 I would have like to take the 8 o’clock train, but I was late at the office.
3 Last year we wanted to go to Sicily.
4 I thought that you would have like to watch the match this evening.
5 Do you think that Luisa would like to have dinner with us?
6 Luisa ha voluto provare il gelato dal nuovo bar.
7 Maria e Giorgio avrebbero voluto andare in Sicilia, ma loro figlio non si sentiva bene.
8 Voremmo sapere se ci rimangono dei biglietti per il concerto.
Toby:
Un ottimo quiz — grazie!
2 domande:
A, #1: uno di questi giorno — dovrebbe essere uno di questi giorni?
B., #2, Quando e’ meglio usare “poiche'” invece di “perche'”? Si potrebbe usare l’uno o l’altro qui?
Serena:
@Toby Salve Toby!
Sì, è uno sbaglio, grazie, l’ho corretto.
Domanda n.2 ‘Quando e’ meglio usare “poiche’” invece di “perche’”? Si potrebbe usare l’uno o l’altro qui?’ In questa frase perché e poiché sono sinonimi. Ma non sempre sono intercambiabili. Perché significa because e why. Poiché non si usa nelle domande e nelle risposte. Poiché significa significa since (dal momento che).
Saluti da Serena
helen williams:
I just love this blog and am sure in the near future I will be able to respond to you in Italian. Grazie