Posts tagged ‘modals’

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Placement of reflexive pronouns with modals (volere, potere, dovere) in compound tenses

3 March 2007, 4:54 PM

Follow these simple rules when deciding where to put the reflexive pronouns with the modals in compound tenses, potere, dovere, and volere:

  1. With avere1, the reflexive pronoun attaches to the infinitive:

    I didn’t want to worry.
    Non ho voluto preoccuparmi.

  2. With essere, the reflexive pronoun precides the auxiliary verb:

    Non mi sono voluto preoccupare.

1When not followed by an infinitive, the modals are used with avere in compound tenses:

Sei voluto andare a Parigi?
You didn’t want to go to Paris?

Non ho voluto.
No, I didn’t want to.

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Understanding verbs: volere — to want

13 November 2006, 5:08 AM

Volere means to want or to want to. It can be directly followed by an infinitive or a noun. Volere also usually requires the subjunctive when followed by a relative clause (see the first example below):

It is irregular in the present tense:

io voglio
tu vuoi
lui/lei/Lei vuole
noi vogliamo
voi volete
loro vogliono

Examples:

I want you to go to the market.
Voglio che tu vada al mercato. (see how the subjunctive is needed…?)

Do you want to eat?
Vuoi mangiare?

She wants a new car.
Vuole una nuova macchina.

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