How to use ‘dovere,’ ‘potere,’ and ‘volere’ as non-modal verbs in Italian?

The Italian words dovere (meaning must), potere (meaning can), and volere (meaning want) usually belong to a class of verbs called modal verbs, but they can also be used as non-modal or independent verbs. Where modal verbs are usually followed by the infinitive of another verb, when they are non-modal verbs, dovere, potere, and volere stand alone. In these uses, the meanings of these verbs can be a little different:

• When dovere stands alone, it means “to owe.”

• When potere appears alone, it's used in a handy expression that you can use to make complaints.

• When volere appears without an infinitive, keeps its original meaning, “to want,” but it’s used for wanting things or actions from others, rather than for wanting to do something.

This article is the third and final post in our series on using modal verbs in Italian. In this part, we’ll tell you all about how to use dovere, potere, and volere as independent non-modal verbs! Let’s find out!

When you use dovere as an independent, non-modal verb it means “to owe” and is followed by a direct object (what is owed) and an indirect object (who will receive the owed thing).

Sometimes, you will find this non-modal use of dovere formed with an indirect object pronoun as well:

When potere is used as an independent, non-modal verb, it’s usually used as part of a specific phrase that you can use whenever you want to express that you are tired of a situation or that you’re fed up with something: non poterne più.

Here’s an example:

You can also specify what you’re sick of or done with. To do this, add the preposition di (meaning of, with) + object ( = the cause of your frustration) to the end of your sentence:

Often the preposition di is combined with a definite article:

You can also use non poterne più di before an infinitive verb, if what you’re tired of is an action:

In Italian, it is quite common to use volere (meaning to want) as an independent, non-modal verb! Just like the English verb “to want,” volere can be used with a direct object noun that represents the object of your desire:

Here are a couple of cases where you’re likely to use the independent verb volere in Italian:

• Using the independent verb ‘volere’ in requests

  You can use the independent verb volere to request something, just like you can with the modal.

  However, when making a request with volere using the present conditional form is highly recommended, as the regular indicative (e.g. voglio (meaning I want)) is harsh and rude. For example:

  • ✅ Polite:

    present conditional

    Vorrei un caffè, per favore.

    Translation: I would like an espresso, please.

  • ❌ Impolite:

    present indicative

    Voglio un caffè, per favore.

    Translation: I want an espresso, please.

  You can also use volere + direct object to ask someone — for instance, a friend — if they would like something.

  Vuoi un caffè?

  Translation: Do you want a coffee?

• Using ‘volere’ with ‘che’

  You can use volere + che to express that you want someone else to do something. Here is the formula:

  volere

  Translation: to want

  

  che

  Translation: that

  

  subjunctive

  You can use the indicative of volere (e.g. voglio) to sound more abrupt or the conditional of volere (e.g. vorrei), to sound softer, but the one you use will determine the tense of the subjunctive verb that follows che:

  • Voglio che (indicative) takes the present subjunctive

    present subjunctive

    Voglio che mi mandino i risultati al più presto!

    Translation: I want them to send me the results ASAP!

  • Vorrei che (conditional) takes the imperfect subjunctive

    imperfect subjunctive

    Vorrei che veniste alla festa domani sera.

    Translation: I would like you to come to the party tomorrow night.

  Remember that if you wanted to say that you want to do something yourself you’d be using volere as a modal verb, before an infinitive!

• Using ‘volere’ with ‘ci’

  You can use volere with the particle ci to describe what it takes or what is required in order to accomplish something:

  volere

  Translation: to want

  

  ci

  =

  volerci

  Translation: to be necessary; to take

  Volerci expresses what it takes, what we need to do, or how much time we need in order to accomplish or make something.

  It has only two forms:

  1. Ci vuole (meaning it takes) is used with singular nouns:

     • singular noun

       Quanto tempo ci vuole fino a Modena?

       Translation: How much time (sg) does it take to get to Modena?
     • Ci vuole un’ora.

       Translation: It takes an hour (sg).

  2. Ci vogliono (meaning it takes) is used with plural nouns:

     • plural noun

       Quante ore ci vogliono fino a Parma?

       Translation: How many hours (pl) does it take to get to Parma?
     • Ci vogliono due ore.

       Translation: It takes two hours (pl).

  Volerci is a very common verb in Italian as it is used to talk about:

  • What it takes to do something

    • Ci vuole molto coraggio per fare una scelta simile.

      Translation: It takes a lot of courage to make such a choice.
    • Per fare questo lavoro, ci vogliono esperienza e creatività.

      Translation: To do this job, it takes experience and creativity.

  • What we need to make something

    • Per fare la torta caprese ci vuole il cacao.

      Translation: You need cocoa / Cocoa is needed to make the caprese cake.
    • Per fare la torta caprese ci vogliono le mandorle.

      Translation: You need almonds / Almonds are needed to make the caprese cake.

  • How long it takes to make something / for something to get done

    Ci vuole un’ora per fare questo puzzle.

    Translation: It takes an hour to do this puzzle.

  • How long it takes to get to a destination

    Ci vogliono tre ore per andare da Milano a Roma in treno.

    Translation: It takes three hours to get from Milan to Rome by train.

• Using ‘volere’ in the phrase ‘volere bene’

  The phrase volere bene a qualcuno means “to love someone” in the way you love friends and family.

  In Italian, there are two ways to say “I love you.”

  • Ti amo is used in romantic relationships.

  • Ti voglio bene is used to express love to family and friends as you are literally telling them “I wish you well.”

• Dovere is used in as a non-modal verb in the expression dovere qualcosa a qualcuno (meaning to owe something to someone) (e.g. mi devi un caffè (meaning you owe me a coffee)).

• Potere is used in a non-modal way in the expression non poterne più (meaning to be exhausted, to be done) or non poterne più di qualcosa (meaning to be sick and tired of something).

• Volere is often used alone + direct object in the sense of “wanting something” (e.g., Il mio amico vuole una bottiglia d’acqua. (meaning My friend wants a bottle of water.) It’s used less literally, though, in two idiomatic expressions:

  • Volere + ci = volerci means “to be necessary / to take” and it is used to talk about:

    1. what we need to make something

    2. how long it takes to make something / to get something done

    3. how long it takes to get to a destination

  • Volere bene a qualcuno means “to love someone” and you often use it with indirect object pronouns like ti, le/gli, vi, etc., like in ti voglio bene (meaning I love you).

Ready to practice how to use dovere, potere, and volere in a non-modal way? 💪 🧠 Click the link!

Or, if you feel like getting a refresher on how to use these verbs as modals, head back to the earlier articles in this series on how to form Italian sentences with modal verbs and when to use modal verbs in Italian!