alle nove?To ask somebody if they would prefer something, use Preferisce…? or, more informally, Preferisci…? (Would you prefer it…?) which are from the present tense of the verb preferire. You can also use the conditional Preferirebbe… or Preferiresti…. For more information on –ire verbs like preferire and on the conditional, see here and here.
Would you prefer it if…?
| Preferisci che ci incontriamo in centro? | Would you prefer it if we met in town? |
| Preferisce che ci troviamo al ristorante? | Would You prefer it if we met at the restaurant? |
| Preferite che vi passi a prendere? | Would you prefer me to come and collect you? |
| Preferirebbe andare allo spettacolo dopo? | Would You prefer it if we went to the later show? |
Is it better to…?
| È meglio invitare anche sua moglie? | Is it better to invite his wife as well? |
| È meglio se ti chiamo di sera? | Is it better to ring you in the evening? |
| È meglio se l’avvisiamo prima di venire? | Is it better to let You know before we drop in? |
If you want to confirm an arrangement with somebody, you can use Siamo d’accordo…? or Allora d’accordo…? (Are we agreed…?).
Are we agreed on…?
| Siamo d’accordo per la data? | Are we agreed on the date? |
| Siamo d’accordo su dove trovarci? | Are we agreed on where to meet? |
| D’accordo, signora? | Are we agreed, madam? |
| Allora d’accordo? | Are we agreed, then? |
| D’accordo. | Agreed! |
BUONO A SAPERSI!
D’accordo is used to accept offers or to agree: Ci andiamo insieme? – D’accordo! (Shall we go together? – OK!).
When you want to say that you have to do something in Italian, you use devo (I have to) followed by the infinitive. devo comes from the verb dovere (to have to). For more information on dovere, see here.
I have to…
| Devo fare una telefonata. | I have to make a phone call. |
| Devo stare a casa stasera. | I have to stay in tonight. |
| Devo andare a cena con i colleghi. | I have to go out to dinner with my colleagues. |
| Dobbiamo essere là alle otto in punto. | We have to be there at eight o’clock sharp. |
I must…
| Devo finire prima delle due. | I must finish before two o’clock. |
| Adesso devo proprio andare. | I really must go now. |
| Devo telefonare a mia moglie. | I must call my wife. |
Do you have to…?
| Devi dargli una risposta oggi? | Do you have to give him an answer today? |
| Deve andare subito? | Do You have to go right now? |
| Dobbiamo portare qualcosa? | Do we have to bring something? |
When you want to say that you should or ought to do something, use dovrei (I should) and then the verb in the infinitive. To find out more about the infinitive, see here.
I should…
| Dovrei chiamare Anne. | I should call Anne. |
| Dovrei darle il mio numero di cellulare. | I should give You my mobile number. |
| Dovreste venire a trovarci. | You should come and see us. |
To ask what someone has to do or when or why they have to do it, put cosa (what), quando (when) or perché (why) at the beginning of the sentence, before deve or, more informally, devi (do you have to?). deve and devi come from the verb dovere (to have to). For more information on dovere, see here.
What do you have to…?
| Cosa deve fare? | What do You have to do? |
| Quando devi partire? | When do you have to go? |
| Perché dovete rientrare così presto? | Why do you have to go back so soon? |
To say that you don’t have to do something, you can use non sono obbligato (or obbligata) a (I’m not obliged to).
I don’t have to…
| Non sono obbligato a restare in albergo. | I don’t have to stay at the hotel. |
| Non sono obbligata a invitarli da me, se è tardi. | I don’t have to invite them back, if it’s late. |
| Non siamo obbligati a coinvolgere tutta la famiglia. | We don’t have to involve the whole family. |
To say what you mustn’t do, you can use non devo (I mustn’t) and then the verb in the infinitive.
I mustn’t…
| Non devo fare tardi anche stasera. | I mustn’t be late again tonight. |
| Non devo perdere il suo numero. | I mustn’t lose
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