Italian 103 · Lesson 22
Dovere — Having To
Explain what needs to happen and ask what you should do.
Begin ↓01 / 08
A necessary action
Devo lavorare.
I have to work.
Devo andare.
I have to go.
Devo means I have to or I must. Add an infinitive directly after it.
02 / 08
You and another person
Devi prenotare.
You need to book. (informal)
Deve cambiare a Bologna.
You need to change in Bologna. (polite)
Devi is informal you; deve serves he, she or polite you. Context can make it advice rather than a strict obligation.
03 / 08
We and you all
Dobbiamo prenotare.
dob-BYAH-moh
We need to book.
Dovete aspettare qui.
You all need to wait here.
Dobbiamo and dovete help organise a group. Hold the double b in dobbiamo.
04 / 08
They need to
Devono comprare i biglietti.
They need to buy the tickets.
Devono is the form for they. Keep the main action in its dictionary form.
05 / 08
Ask for instructions
Devo pagare prima?
Do I need to pay first?
Dove devo firmare?
Where do I need to sign?
A question with devo is useful when you do not know the process. You are asking about a requirement, not permission.
06 / 08
Permission or necessity?
Posso entrare?
May I come in?
Devo entrare qui?
Do I need to go in here?
Posso asks whether you can; devo asks whether you must. They can produce different answers in the same place.
07 / 08
Be careful with negatives
Non devi fumare qui.
You mustn’t smoke here.
Non è necessario prenotare.
There’s no need to book.
Non devi often means you must not or should not. To make no need unambiguous, say non è necessario.
Remember this
Takeaway
Devo andare, perché lavoro domani.
I have to go because I’m working tomorrow.
Devo, devi, deve, dobbiamo, dovete, devono express necessity. Combine one with a time or reason to explain your situation.