Modal verbs
Volere, potere and dovere — want, can and must — attach directly to an infinitive.
The three core modal verbs are volere (to want: voglio, vuoi, vuole, vogliamo, volete, vogliono), potere (to be able, can: posso, puoi, può, possiamo, potete, possono) and dovere (to have to, must: devo, devi, deve, dobbiamo, dovete, devono). All three are irregular and extremely frequent.
The verb after a modal stays in the infinitive, exactly as in English: Voglio mangiare (I want to eat), Posso entrare? (May I come in?), Devo lavorare domani (I have to work tomorrow). Nothing comes between the modal and the infinitive except a pronoun.
A fourth verb, sapere, works like a modal for learned ability: So nuotare (I can swim — I know how to). Use potere for permission and circumstance, sapere for skills.
Examples
- Voglio un caffè. I want a coffee.
- Posso pagare con la carta? Can I pay by card?
- Devo partire presto domani. I have to leave early tomorrow.
- Non possiamo venire stasera. We cannot come tonight.
- Sai cucinare? Can you cook?
Common mistake
Conjugating the second verb (voglio mangio) — after a modal, the next verb is always the infinitive: voglio mangiare.