Answers
Aug 08, 2015 - 11:28 PM
These were some difficult lessons. There is a lot to remember.
The lessons you refer to deal mostly with reflexive verbs, and also with regular verbs that are modified by a modal verb. Here’s a link to an old thread where I posted some ideas on reflexives.
http://commons.fluenz.com/italian/pos...
The other issue in these lessons are the modal verbs. These are verbs that modify other verbs and the structures are exactly the same as in English.
For example:
1) “I paid the bill.” This is simple past tense.
2) “I had to pay the bill.” This tense indicates a necessity to pay the bill. The verb “to have“ is the modal verb and it is expressed in the past tense. i.e. - “had”
Conversely, the verb “to pay” is in the infinitive.
To express this in Italian requires the modal verb “dovere” i.e. - “to have to” (meaning it’s a necessity)
The past tense of ‘dovere’ is “dovuto.”
So the sentence will read: “Ho dovuto pagare il conto.”
(note the use of the infinitive “pagare.”
Finally, you must also remember that the infinitive determines which auxiliary verb is used.
Most verbs use “avere” as the auxiliary as in the example above. The infinitive “pagare” uses “avere,” as does the modal verb “dovere.”
But don’t confuse “dovere” (to have to / to must) with “avere” (to have). In English, we only have one verb for “to have” and we use it in both simple past tense and as a modal verb. In Italian there are two different verbs. “Avere” meaning ‘to have,’ in the sense of possessing, and “dovere” in the sense of a necessity—i.e. “to have to” or “to must.”
So more specifically, a word-for-word translation of “Ho dovuto pagare il conto” actually would be: “I have had to pay the bill.” But in English, “I had to pay the bill” is sufficient.
The other modal verb discussed in these lessons is the past tense of “can” i.e. - “could”
Similarly, the auxiliary for verbs that express motion use “essere” as shown in the next example.
1) “I went with you.” – simple past tense.
2) “I could not go with you” – this expresses an impossibility using the past tense modal verb “could” along with the infinitive “to go.”
Here, we use the verb “potere” i.e. - “to can” or “to be able to”
It’s past tense is “potuto.”
Again, the modal verb is in the past tense but the verb it modifies is in the infinitive.
The infinitive “andare” expresses motion, so it requires “essere” as the auxiliary.
The Italian would be: “Non sono potuto andare con te.”
Another possible English translation would be: “I was not able to go with you.”
A final reminder: in both English and Italian the modal verb is placed between the auxiliary and the main verb.
I hope all this helps.
The lessons you refer to deal mostly with reflexive verbs, and also with regular verbs that are modified by a modal verb. Here’s a link to an old thread where I posted some ideas on reflexives.
http://commons.fluenz.com/italian/pos...
The other issue in these lessons are the modal verbs. These are verbs that modify other verbs and the structures are exactly the same as in English.
For example:
1) “I paid the bill.” This is simple past tense.
2) “I had to pay the bill.” This tense indicates a necessity to pay the bill. The verb “to have“ is the modal verb and it is expressed in the past tense. i.e. - “had”
Conversely, the verb “to pay” is in the infinitive.
To express this in Italian requires the modal verb “dovere” i.e. - “to have to” (meaning it’s a necessity)
The past tense of ‘dovere’ is “dovuto.”
So the sentence will read: “Ho dovuto pagare il conto.”
(note the use of the infinitive “pagare.”
Finally, you must also remember that the infinitive determines which auxiliary verb is used.
Most verbs use “avere” as the auxiliary as in the example above. The infinitive “pagare” uses “avere,” as does the modal verb “dovere.”
But don’t confuse “dovere” (to have to / to must) with “avere” (to have). In English, we only have one verb for “to have” and we use it in both simple past tense and as a modal verb. In Italian there are two different verbs. “Avere” meaning ‘to have,’ in the sense of possessing, and “dovere” in the sense of a necessity—i.e. “to have to” or “to must.”
So more specifically, a word-for-word translation of “Ho dovuto pagare il conto” actually would be: “I have had to pay the bill.” But in English, “I had to pay the bill” is sufficient.
The other modal verb discussed in these lessons is the past tense of “can” i.e. - “could”
Similarly, the auxiliary for verbs that express motion use “essere” as shown in the next example.
1) “I went with you.” – simple past tense.
2) “I could not go with you” – this expresses an impossibility using the past tense modal verb “could” along with the infinitive “to go.”
Here, we use the verb “potere” i.e. - “to can” or “to be able to”
It’s past tense is “potuto.”
Again, the modal verb is in the past tense but the verb it modifies is in the infinitive.
The infinitive “andare” expresses motion, so it requires “essere” as the auxiliary.
The Italian would be: “Non sono potuto andare con te.”
Another possible English translation would be: “I was not able to go with you.”
A final reminder: in both English and Italian the modal verb is placed between the auxiliary and the main verb.
I hope all this helps.
Aug 09, 2015 - 11:09 AM
Thank you very much! Very, very useful!