Question 1

Why is the auxiliary è used here instead of ha with dovere?

Accepted Answer

This is the main rule for modals with reflexive verbs! Normally, dovere uses the auxiliary avere. However, because the reflexive pronoun si is placed before the conjugated verb, the auxiliary must switch to essere.

Question 2

Could I write this sentence using avere instead?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can. If you attach the reflexive pronoun to the end of the infinitive to make dimettersi, the modal verb keeps its normal auxiliary, which is avere. So you could say ha dovuto dimettersi, which means exactly the same thing.

Question 3

Since we are using essere, does the past participle dovuto have to agree with the subject?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it does. Whenever you use essere as the auxiliary, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject. Here, the subject is masculine singular, so it is dovuto. If the subject were female, the sentence would be si è dovuta dimettere.

Question 4

Why does the sentence use the imperfect tense era but the passato prossimo è dovuto?

Accepted Answer

The imperfect era describes an ongoing background state (the situation being unbearable over an unspecified period of time). The passato prossimo è dovuto is used for the specific, completed action that resulted from that state (the concrete event of having to resign).

Question 5

What is the root of the word insostenibile?

Accepted Answer

It is built from the verb sostenere (to support or bear), combined with the negative prefix in- and the suffix -ibile (able to be). Together, they form a word that literally means 'not able to be supported' or 'unbearable'.

La situazione era insostenibile, quindi si è dovuto dimettere.

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