Irregular & Modal Verbs in the Italian Present Tense
Speak Like a Native, Even When the Verbs Break the Rules
So you’ve got the regular Italian verbs down. You’re saying things like:
“Parlo italiano.” → I speak Italian.
“Viviamo a Milano.” → We live in Milan.
“Dormono bene.” → They sleep well.
🎉 Bravo!
But now it’s time to face the rebels: the irregular verbs. These verbs don’t follow the usual rules, but they’re the backbone of daily Italian. And spoiler: they’re super common.
What Makes a Verb Irregular?
An irregular verb changes its stem or endings in ways that don’t follow a predictable pattern. That sounds scary, but honestly, you already know a few without realizing it.
Let’s take a look, no drills, just real talk and real Italian.
Meet the Irregulars: Your Daily Essentials
1. Essere – to be
This is THE verb. You need it for everything: describing people, giving your name, saying how you feel.
“Sono felice.” → I’m happy.
“Sei italiano?” → Are you Italian?
“Siamo in ritardo.” → We’re late.
“Loro sono a casa.” → They’re at home.
Yes, it’s irregular. Yes, it’s essential. But once you use it enough, it becomes automatic.
2. Avere – to have
Another foundation of Italian. You need it to say your age, describe possession, or talk about being cold or hungry.
“Ho venticinque anni.” → I’m 25 years old.
“Hai fame?” → Are you hungry?
“Abbiamo una macchina nuova.” → We have a new car.
In Italian, you “have” hunger, cold, thirst, etc., not “are.” Wild, right?
3. Andare – to go
This one’s full of twists, but it's everywhere.
“Vado a scuola.” → I go to school.
“Dove vai?” → Where are you going?
“Andiamo al mare!” → Let’s go to the sea!
Notice the stem keeps changing: vado, vai, andiamo. That’s irregular magic.
4. Venire – to come
This one pairs beautifully with andare.
“Vieni con me?” → Are you coming with me?
“Vengo subito.” → I’m coming right away.
“Veniamo da Roma.” → We’re coming from Rome.
It changes a lot, but don’t worry. You’ll hear it so often, it’ll stick.
5. Uscire – to go out
This is your party verb. Or your “I need fresh air” verb.
“Esco con gli amici.” → I go out with friends.
“Quando esci?” → When are you going out?
“Uscite stasera?” → Are you guys going out tonight?
A great one for making plans.
6. Dire – to say / to tell
Italian loves conversation, so this one is gold.
“Dico la verità.” → I’m telling the truth.
“Cosa dici?” → What are you saying?
“Dicono che piove domani.” → They say it’ll rain tomorrow.
Modal Verbs: Your Conversation Superpower
Now let’s talk about modal verbs. These verbs are followed by another verb in the infinitive (that’s the “to do” form).
The three most common modals are:
Volere – to want
Potere – can / to be able to
Dovere – must / to have to
Let’s get into how they work.
1. Volere – to want
Use it to express your desires or to offer something politely.
“Voglio un gelato.” → I want an ice cream.
“Cosa vuoi fare?” → What do you want to do?
“Vogliamo andare al cinema.” → We want to go to the cinema.
“Vuoi venire con noi?” → Do you want to come with us?
It’s great for restaurants, travel, or when making plans.
2. Potere – can / may / to be able to
Use this to ask for permission or talk about ability.
“Posso entrare?” → Can I come in?
“Non posso venire oggi.” → I can’t come today.
“Puoi aiutarmi?” → Can you help me?
“Possiamo parlare dopo?” → Can we talk later?
This verb is a lifesaver when you’re just starting out. It helps you ask instead of guess.
3. Dovere – must / have to
Need to talk about obligations? This is your verb.
“Devo studiare.” → I have to study.
“Devi lavorare domani?” → Do you have to work tomorrow?
“Dobbiamo parlare.” → We need to talk.
“Loro devono partire presto.” → They must leave early.
It’s how you express responsibility, whether it’s real or just your mom yelling from the kitchen.
Bonus Tip: Combine Modals with Verbs
Here’s how you use modal verbs with other actions:
“Voglio mangiare.” → I want to eat.
“Puoi aspettare?” → Can you wait?
“Dobbiamo comprare il pane.” → We have to buy bread.
The formula is:
[modal verb] + [infinitive verb]
No need to conjugate both, just the modal.
Let’s Put It in a Conversation
Marco: Ciao! Dove vai?
Luca: Vado al supermercato. Devo comprare il latte.
Marco: Posso venire con te?
Luca: Certo! Vuoi anche prendere un caffè dopo?
Marco: Volentieri!
English translation:
Marco: Hi! Where are you going?
Luca: I’m going to the supermarket. I have to buy milk.
Marco: Can I come with you?
Luca: Of course! Do you also want to grab a coffee after?
Marco: Gladly!
You just saw andare, dovere, potere, volere all in action—this is real-life Italian.
Wrap-Up: Your Irregular Verb Survival Kit
Irregular and modal verbs may break the rules, but they make Italian come alive. You’ll hear them everywhere, and once you start using them in everyday phrases, they’ll feel natural.
Quick Practice Ideas:
Start your day with “Oggi voglio...” (Today I want…)
Ask a friend “Puoi...” something (Can you...?)
Write 3 things you “devi” do today (must do)
Next step? Go back and review the present tense basics or try out a set of mini-conversations using these verbs.
