Italian conjugation explanation

Which auxiliary verb to use for 'volere'?

<p>The verb <strong style="font-style: italic;">volere</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 has a direct object, the auxiliary verb is <span style="font-style: italic;">avere</span>:</p>

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

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">The direct object of the verb <strong>volere</strong> is <span class="green_emphasis">questo libro</span>.</div>

<p>When it's used in the sense 'to take time', the auxiliary verb is <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ci <strong>sono voluti</strong> tre giorni per pitturare tutta la casa. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It took three days to paint the whole house.</span>)</div>

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

<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>

) is most often used as a modal verb (=to want to do something) followed by another verb. 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;">volere</span></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 <strong>andare</strong> (=to go) uses <strong>essere</strong> as its auxiliary verb.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">È la ragione per cui <strong>ho voluto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">parlarti</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">That's why I wanted to talk to you.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">The verb <strong>parlare</strong> (=to speak) 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;">volere</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"><strong>Hai voluto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">essere</span> ricca? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Have you ever wanted to be rich?</span>)</div>

Compare with:

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Sei stato</strong> ricco. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You have been rich.</span>)</div>

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

<p>When <span style="font-style: italic;">volere</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 voluto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">nascondere</span> da noi? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Why did he want 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">Perché <strong>ha voluto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">nascondersi</span> da noi? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Why did he want to hide from us?</span>)</div>

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