Italian conjugation explanation

Which auxiliary verb to use for 'volere'?

<p>The Italian verb <strong>volere</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">to want</span>) is irregular and one of the most common modal verbs. Choosing the correct auxiliary verb (<span style="font-style: italic;">avere</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span>) in compound tenses like the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/123/" target="_blank">Passato Prossimo</a>

depends entirely on how the verb is used in the sentence.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Used as a Main Verb</div>

<p>When <strong>volere</strong> is used as a transitive verb followed by a direct object (a noun), it always uses

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/avere/" title="Click to see conjugations for avere" target="_blank">avere</a>

as the auxiliary verb.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Ho</strong> sempre <strong>voluto</strong> <span class="brown_emphasis">questo libro</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I have always wanted this book.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Here, <span class="brown_emphasis">questo libro</span> is the direct object.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Idiomatic Usage: Volerci</div>

<p>When used in the pronominal form <strong style="font-style: italic;">volerci</strong>, meaning "to take time" or "to be needed", the auxiliary verb is always

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/essere/" title="Click to see conjugations for essere" target="_blank">essere</a>

.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ci <strong>sono voluti</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">tre giorni</span> per finire il lavoro. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It took three days to finish the work.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">The subject is <span style="font-style: italic;">tre giorni</span> (plural), so the verb agrees in number.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Used as a Modal Verb</div>

<p>This is the most common use case. Like

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/italian_auxiliary_verb_dovere/" target="_blank">dovere</a>

and

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/italian_auxiliary_verb_potere/" target="_blank">potere</a>

, when <strong>volere</strong> is followed by another verb in the infinitive, it usually <strong>adopts the auxiliary of that following verb</strong>.</p>

<p>1. If the following verb uses

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/avere/" title="Click to see conjugations for avere" target="_blank">avere</a>

, use <strong style="font-style: italic;">avere</strong>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Ho voluto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">parlarti</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I wanted to talk to you.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">The verb

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/parlare/" title="Click to see conjugations for parlare" target="_blank">parlare</a>

uses <strong>avere</strong>, so <strong>volere</strong> uses it too.</div>

<p>2. If the following verb uses

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/essere/" title="Click to see conjugations for essere" target="_blank">essere</a>

(verbs of motion or state), use <strong style="font-style: italic;">essere</strong>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Perché <strong>è voluto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">andare</span> in Armenia? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Why did he want to go to Armenia?</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">The verb

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/andare/" title="Click to see conjugations for andare" target="_blank">andare</a>

uses <strong>essere</strong>, so <strong>volere</strong> inherits it.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Exception: The verb Essere</div>

<p>There is a specific exception to the modal rule. If the infinitive following <strong>volere</strong> is

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/essere/" title="Click to see conjugations for essere" target="_blank">essere</a>

itself, the auxiliary verb must be

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/avere/" title="Click to see conjugations for avere" target="_blank">avere</a>

, even though <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span> usually takes <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span>.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Hai voluto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">essere</span> generosa. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You wanted to be generous.</span>)</div>

<p>Compare this to the simple past tense of just <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_secondary_example_sentence"><strong>Sei stata</strong> generosa. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You were generous.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Reflexive Verbs</div>

<p>With reflexive verbs (like

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/nascondersi/" title="Click to see conjugations for nascondersi" target="_blank">nascondersi</a>

or

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/lavarsi/" title="Click to see conjugations for lavarsi" target="_blank">lavarsi</a>

), the position of the reflexive pronoun determines the auxiliary. This is a common point of confusion detailed in

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/italian_wrong_auxiliary_verb_for_reflexive/" target="_blank">this explanation</a>

.</p>

<p>If the pronoun acts as a prefix (before the conjugated verb), use <strong style="font-style: italic;">essere</strong>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Perché <span class="green_emphasis">si</span> <strong>è voluto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">nascondere</span>? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Why did he want to hide?</span>)</div>

<p>If the pronoun is attached to the end of the infinitive, use <strong style="font-style: italic;">avere</strong>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Perché <strong>ha voluto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">nascondersi</span>? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Why did he want to hide?</span>)</div>