Lesson 18.1: Making Plans – Using Modal Verbs (Volere, Potere, Dovere) 📆☕🛑 #
Italians love making plans.
Whether it’s a coffee, a dinner, or a spontaneous trip to the coast.
But how do you talk about plans in Italian?
Easy!
You need modal verbs – those magical verbs that help you express wants, obligations, and possibilities.
🎯 The Three Big Modal Verbs #
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| volere | to want | Voglio uscire. → I want to go out. |
| potere | can / to be able to | Posso venire domani? → Can I come tomorrow? |
| dovere | must / to have to | Devo lavorare sabato. → I have to work on Saturday. |
✅ Examples in Action #
- Voglio andare al cinema. → I want to go to the cinema.
- Possiamo cenare insieme? → Can we have dinner together?
- Devo studiare per l’esame. → I have to study for the exam.
- Non posso venire stasera. → I can’t come tonight.
Modal verbs are followed by the infinitive:
Voglio + mangiare
Posso + uscire
Devo + lavorare
🎭 Geoff & Viktor Make Plans (Or Try To…) #
With English translations
Viktor: Vuoi venire al parco domani?
Viktor: Do you want to come to the park tomorrow?
Geoff: Forse… posso pensarci?
Geoff: Maybe… can I think about it?
Viktor: Devi solo dire sì o no.
Viktor: You just need to say yes or no.
Geoff: Ok… voglio venire… ma non posso… devo… dormire.
Geoff: Ok… I want to come… but I can’t… I have to… sleep.
Viktor: Classico Geoff.
Viktor: Classic Geoff.
💬 Bonus Phrases for Planning #
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Magari più tardi. | Maybe later. |
| A che ora? | At what time? |
| Dove ci vediamo? | Where shall we meet? |
| Non posso, mi dispiace. | I can’t, sorry. |
Practice Tip 🧠 #
Make 3 short sentences using:
- volere
- potere
- dovere
Example:
Voglio fare una passeggiata, ma non posso… devo lavorare.
👉 Coming up next: Exercise 18.1 — Time to test your planning skills… or your excuses!