Lesson 15 of 40 · win the Power Verb Hero badge
Voglio, posso, devo — i verbi modali
Wanting, being able, having to
Cape on. Three superpowers today: I want, I can, I must. Luna is already tugging you towards «voglio».
🎯 By the end you can…
- Ask permission politely
- Say what you want and must do
- Make and refuse invitations
🎬 Listen to the scene
Tap a line to hear it, then say it back louder than Luna barks.
Do you want to come to the cinema?
I can't, I have to study.
Shame! Can we go tomorrow?
🔑 volere · potere · dovere
| volere | potere | dovere | |
|---|---|---|---|
| io | voglio | posso | devo |
| tu | vuoi | puoi | devi |
| lui / lei | vuole | può | deve |
| noi | vogliamo | possiamo | dobbiamo |
| voi | volete | potete | dovete |
| loro | vogliono | possono | devono |
Adam's tip: Always followed by the plain infinitive: voglio mangiare, devo andare, posso entrare?
🧩 Politer still
- Vorrei un caffè. — I would like a coffee. Use it in every shop.
🤯 Wow fact
«Vorrei» is the magic polite word. Use it in any shop in Italy and watch grown-ups smile.
🗣️ Say it fast, say it silly
Voglio, posso, devo — vorrei un gelato!
Three times in a row without tripping = you win.
🧠 Puzzle time
Answer in your head first, then tap to check. 0 of 4 checked
Complete with the modal in brackets.
😂 Barzelletta — Luna's joke
Cosa vuole Luna?
🚀 Your mission today
Say one thing you want, one you can do and one you must do — in Italian.
🎲 Play it with someone
Invitations
Circulate three invitations. Students must accept one and refuse two, each refusal with a different excuse using dovere.
House rules
Groups invent five rules for the classroom: «Non si può…, si deve…»
🧪 End-of-lesson quiz
Eight quick questions. Get 6 right to win the Power Verb Hero badge.
This lesson belongs to Unit 5 — Out in the world. Pass every quiz in the unit — and know 250 words — to be promoted to the next level.
💪 Keep the streak going
- Quiz, Set 22 — Feelings & Manners
- Order tomorrow's breakfast in your head with vorrei
Word sets for this lesson
