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Questions & Answers about Voglio andare in città.
Why is there no preposition like “di” after “voglio”? For example, why isn’t it “voglio di andare”?
In Italian, when one verb follows a modal or a verb of desire like “volere”, “dovere”, or “potere”, you don’t need the preposition “di.” For example, you say voglio mangiare, devo uscire, posso vedere. The direct infinitive follows these verbs without an additional preposition.
Why do we say “in città” instead of “a città”?
“In” is commonly used when talking about being or going to a general location, especially with nouns like “città,” “ufficio,” “biblioteca,” etc. You will often hear phrases such as vivere in città or lavorare in ufficio. “A” is used before names of specific towns or cities (e.g., vado a Roma), not for the generic word “città.”
What’s the difference between “voglio” and “vorrei”?
“Voglio” is the present tense form of “volere” and means “I want.” It’s direct and can sometimes sound emphatic. “Vorrei” is the conditional form, meaning “I would like,” and it’s more polite or softer when making requests.
Can I say “Voglio andare alla città” instead of “in città”?
Generally, no. “Alla città” would sound off in everyday Italian unless you’re specifying a particular context like a specific gated part of a historical “ città.” The most natural choice is in città to indicate going or being downtown/in the city.
Why is “andare” in the infinitive form?
When “volere” (to want) is followed by another verb, that second verb remains in the infinitive (the “to” form in English). This structure is similar to English “want to go,” where the main verb is “want” and the second verb is in the infinitive (“to go”).
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