Italian conjugation explanation

Which auxiliary verb to use for 'dovere'?

<p>The verb <strong style="font-style: italic;">dovere</strong> can take either <span style="font-style: italic;">avere</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span> as its auxiliary verb. When it's used in the sense 'to owe', it takes a direct object (e.g. money). Verbs with a direct object (transitive verbs) use the auxiliary verb <span style="font-style: italic;">avere</span>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Non ti <strong>ho</strong> mai <strong>dovuto</strong> dei soldi. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I never owed you any money.</span>)</div>

<p>However, the verb <span style="font-style: italic;">dovere</span> (similar to

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/italian_auxiliary_verb_volere" target="_blank">volere</a>

and

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

) is most often used as a modal verb (=to have to, must). In this case, we have to <strong>use the auxiliary verb that we would use with the verb that comes after <span style="font-style: italic;">dovere</span></strong>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Perché <strong>è dovuto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">succedere</span> a me? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Why did that have to happen to me?</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">The verb <strong>succedere</strong> (=to happen) uses <strong>essere</strong> as its auxiliary verb.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Io <strong>sono dovuto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">andare</span> al pronto soccorso. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I had to go to the emergency room.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">The verb <strong>andare</strong> (=to go) uses <strong>essere</strong> as its auxiliary verb.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Ho dovuto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">mostrare</span> loro qualcosa. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I had to show them something.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">The verb <strong>mostrare</strong> (=to show) is a transitive verb (with the direct object 'qualcosa') and uses <strong>avere</strong> as its auxiliary verb.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Abbiamo dovuto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">aspettarlo</span> per dieci minuti. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We had to wait for him for ten minutes.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">The verb <strong>aspettare</strong> (=to wait) is a transitive verb (with the direct object 'lo') and uses <strong>avere</strong> as its auxiliary verb.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">The verb <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span></div>

<p>When <strong><span style="font-style: italic;">dovere</span> is followed by <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span></strong>, the auxiliary verb has to be <strong style="font-style: italic;">avere</strong> (even though the auxiliary verb for <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span> is <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span>):</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Daniele <strong>ha dovuto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">essere</span> ricoverato in ospedale. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Daniele had to be hospitalized.</span>)</div>

Compare with:

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Daniele <strong>è stato</strong> ricoverato in ospedale. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Daniele was hospitalized.</span>)</div>

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

<p>When <span style="font-style: italic;">dovere</span> is used as a modal verb with a reflexive verb, <strong>the position of the reflexive pronoun determines which auxiliary verb to use</strong>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Perché <span class="green_emphasis">si</span> <strong>è dovuto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">nascondere</span> da noi? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Why did he have to hide from us?</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">When the reflexive pronoun (si) is <strong>before</strong> the main verb, we use <strong>essere</strong>.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Avreste dovuto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">spazzolarvi</span> i denti. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You should've brushed your teeth.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">When the reflexive pronoun (vi) is <strong>after</strong> the main verb, we use <strong>avere</strong>.</div>