Collins Dictionaries - Easy Learning Italian Conversation

If you want to say that you have to do something in Italian, such as buy a ticket, catch a train and so on, you use devo( I have to) or dovrei( I ought to ) followed by the infinitive. These are from the verb dovere( to have to ). For more information on dovere, see here.

Another way of saying what you must do is to use bisogna che( it is necessary that ) followed by the subjunctive. For more information about the subjunctive, see here.

When you are travelling, you may want to say what you would like to do in Italian. You can use vorrei( I’d like ) or voglio( I want ) with the infinitive. They both come from the verb volere( to want ). For more information on volere, see here.

You can also use desidero( I would like ), which is slightly more formal. This comes from desiderare( to want ). For more information on -areverbs like desiderare, see here.

If you want to say that you feel like doing something, say ho voglia dior mi va di( I feel like ). hocomes from the verb avereand vacomes from andare. For more information on avereand andare,see hereand here.

You may wish to make a suggestion to your colleagues or friends in Italian. One way of doing this is to use potremmo( we could ), or si potrebbe( one could ). Both come from the verb potere( to be able ). For more information on potere, see here.

If you want to ask someone if they would like to do something, you can generally use the verb volere( to want ). An alternative is ti piacerebbeor, to somebody you know less well, le piacerebbe, from the verb piacere. For more information on volere, see here.

Just as in English, you can make a suggestion by simply asking Perché non…?( Why don’t…? ).

You can make a suggestion using E se…?( How about…? ) which is followed by a verb in the imperfect subjunctive. For more information on the subjunctive, see here.