The verb dovere (must, to have to)
To express obligations, duties, or rules, use the irregular verb dovere. Like other modal verbs, conjugate dovere to match the subject and leave the action verb that follows in the infinitive (the dictionary form).
| Pronoun | Dovere |
|---|---|
| io | devo |
| tu | devi |
| lui / lei / Lei | deve |
| noi | dobbiamo |
| voi | dovete |
| loro | devono |
Notice how the second verb (preparare, lavare) remains unchanged:
| I have to prepare for the exam today. | Devo preparare l'esame oggi. |
| You have to wash the dishes. | Devi lavare i piatti. |
| Marco has to wash the car. | Marco deve lavare la macchina. |
Discussing responsibilities and rules
Use dovere to talk about chores, daily responsibilities, or strict rules.
| We must respect the rules. | Dobbiamo rispettare le regole. |
| You all have to do the homework. | Dovete fare i compiti. |
| They have to call the doctor immediately. | Devono chiamare subito il dottore. |
Explaining why you must do something
Dovere is often used alongside reasons, such as stating why you cannot do something else or dividing up tasks.
| I can't help, I have to prepare dinner. | Non posso aiutare, devo preparare la cena. |
| Today I must cook dinner and you must drive the car. | Oggi io devo cucinare la cena e tu devi guidare la macchina. |
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