Modals (II) Translating modals with verbi servili will would VOLERE modals of obligation modals of probability can could POTERE may might shall should DOVERE must ought to Obligation DOVERE expressing permission and obligation You use have to, must, or need to to say that something is necessary, for example because of a rule or law. = dovere Applications must reach the office before 30 April. La domanda deve pervenire all ufficio entro il 30 aprile 1
Obligation DOVERE You use must not or not allowed to to say that it is necessary not to do something. = non dovere; non essere permesso You re not allowed to carry sharp objects in your hand luggage Non è permesso portare oggetti appuntiti nel bagaglio a mano. No obligation NON OCCORRERE You use not have to or need not/ not need to to say that something is unnecessary = non occorre; non è obbligatorio; non devi necessariamente You don t have to use chopsticks in a Chinese restaurant. Non devi per forza usare le bacchette al ristorante cinese. Permission POTERE Can is used to ask for and give permission. May is used in more formal situations = potere May I ask what you re doing here? Posso chiederle che cosa sta facendo qui? Prohibition POTERE Cannot is used to say that something is forbidden, for example because of a rule or law. = non potere May not is more formal than cannot = non potere Not allowed to = cannot Not permitted is formal = essere vietato 2
You can t smoke inside the hospital. Non si può fumare dentro all ospedale Parking is not permitted here. E vietato parcheggiare qui. Prohibition DOVERE Must not is used to say that something is unacceptable or undesirable. = non dovere Should not is used to tell someone that it is better not to do or say something. = non dovere [condizionale] You mustn't do that. Non devi fare così. You shouldn't be so rude. Non dovresti essere così scortese. expressing probability and (un)certainty 3
Certainty FUTURO You use be certain to, or the future tense with will when you are sure that something will happen. = futuro You use be certain not to, or the future tense with will not when you are sure that something will not happen. = futuro The dollar is certain to fall further before it recovers Il valore del dollaro si abbasserà ulteriormente prima di risalire. The democrats will win the election. I democratici vinceranno le elezioni. He won t be late. Non farà tardi. Deduction DOVERE You use must to indicate that you believe something is true, because of particular facts or circumstances. = dovere Deduction NON POTERE When you are indicating that something is not true, you use cannot (not must not). = non potere This article must have been written by a woman. Quest articolo deve essere stato scritto da una donna. You can't talk to the dead. Non si può parlare con i morti. 4
Probability DOVERE condizionale You use should or ought to to say that you expect something to happen. = dovere This course should be quite interesting for you. Dovreste trovare interessante questo corso. She should have been home by now. Sarebbe dovuta essere già rientrata. Probability CONDIZIONALE You use should have or ought to have when something was expected to happen in the past. = condizionale + pp. You wouldn't have reported him, would you? Tu non l avresti denunciato, vero? A lot of men died who might have been saved. Sono morti molti uomini che si sarebbero potuti salvare. Uncertainty POTERE If there is a possibility of something being true, use could, may, might, or be possible: = potere If there is a possibility of something not being true, use may not or might not. = può darsi + negativo; può essere + negativo Don't eat it: it might be poisonous. Non mangiarlo: potrebbe essere velenoso. That might not be true. Potrebbe non essere vero. 5
Modals with adverbs Modals can be reinforced with adverbs such as well, indeed. = anche, pure That may well be true potrebbe pure essere vero Modals with adverbs Modals can be made more tentative with adverbs such as possibly, conceivably, just, perhaps. = per caso, possibilmente, soltanto I couldn t possibly use your phone, could I? Non è che per caso potrei usare il Suo telefono? I would just like to ask you a few questions. Vorrei farle soltanto qualche domanda. Non-modal expressions of probability You can also use the following expressions to express probability: be likely to be probable be bound to be due to (probabilità) (probabilità) (certezza) (deduzione) 6