How to Say “Should” in Italian
In Italian, the word “should” is expressed using the present conditional of the verb dovere (to have to, must). This is how you convey advice, recommendations, or mild obligations — just like in English.
Conjugation of “Should” in Italian
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | dovrei | I should |
| tu | dovresti | you should |
| lui/lei | dovrebbe | he/she should |
| noi | dovremmo | we should |
| voi | dovreste | you should (plural) |
| loro | dovrebbero | they should |
How to Use “Should” in a Sentence
Just like in English, “should” must be followed by the infinitive form of the main verb (the unconjugated verb).
Examples:
- Dovrei mangiare — I should eat
- Dovresti guidare — You should drive
- Dovrebbe pagare — He/She should pay
- Dovremmo correre — We should run
- Dovreste cucinare — You (plural) should cook
- Dovrebbero parlare — They should speak
How to Say “Should Not” in Italian
To say “shouldn’t“,, simply place “non” before the verb:
Examples:
Non dovrei mangiare troppo. — I shouldn’t eat too much.
Non dovresti fumare. — You shouldn’t smoke.
Non dovrebbe parlare così forte. — He/She shouldn’t speak so loudly.
Non dovremmo spendere così tanto. — We shouldn’t spend so much.
? Note: This form is usually used to give advice or make a recommendation to someone.
- Dovresti studiare di più – You should study more.
- Non dovreste arrivare tardi. — You (plural) shouldn’t arrive late.
How to Say “I Should Have Done (Something)” in Italian
In Italian, to say “I should have done something“, you use the past conditional of the verb dovere.
There are two ways to form this, depending on the verb that comes after dovuto:
| avrei dovuto + infinitive | I should have + past participle (generic) |
| sarei dovuto/a + infinitive | I should have + past participle (gender-specific) |
How It Works
This is a compound tense, so the choice of auxiliary (avere or essere) depends on the verb that follows dovuto:
If the next verb is transitive (uses avere)
Use avere as the auxiliary. The participle dovuto does not change.
Examples:
- Avrei dovuto fare. — I should have done.
- Avremmo dovuto fare. — We should have done.
If the next verb is intransitive or a verb of motion (uses essere)
Use essere as the auxiliary. The participle dovuto must agree with the gender and number of the subject.
Examples:
- Sarei dovuto andare. — I should have gone. (masculine)
- Sarei dovuta andare. — I should have gone. (feminine)
- Saremmo dovuti andare. — We should have gone. (masculine plural)
- Saremmo dovute andare. — We should have gone. (feminine plural)
? Note: Use this form to express regret or an unfulfilled obligation in the past.
? Rule of Thumb:
To say “should”:
Use the present conditional of dovere + infinitive
Example: Dovrei studiare. (I should study.)
To say “should have”:
Use the past conditional of dovere + infinitive
Use avrei dovuto if the next verb takes avere
Use sarei dovuto/a if the next verb takes essere (and agree with gender/number)
Example: Avrei dovuto studiare. (I should have studied.)
Example: Sarei dovuta andare. (I should have gone. — feminine)
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