Skip to main content
Humanities LibreTexts

4.3.1: Ti va di uscire stasera?

  • Page ID
    341206
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\dsum}{\displaystyle\sum\limits} \)

    \( \newcommand{\dint}{\displaystyle\int\limits} \)

    \( \newcommand{\dlim}{\displaystyle\lim\limits} \)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    ( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \(\newcommand{\longvect}{\overrightarrow}\)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)

    Would you like to go out tonight?

    Making plans is an important part of everyday life. In Italian, you often need to invite, accept, or decline politely, and suggest alternatives. In this section, you will learn how to use familiar verbs and expressions to organize activities with friends, classmates, or family.

    Learning Objectives
    • Use volere, potere, dovere to make invitations and plans.
    • Invite, accept, and decline in a polite and natural way.
    • Adapt model dialogues to your own situations.
    • Recognize authentic expressions Italians use when making plans.
    • Apply modal verbs in communicative activities with classmates.
    • Transfer spoken interaction into written expression.

    Forme di invito (Invitations)

    • avere voglia di … – to fancy / to desire (+ verb or direct object)
    • certamente – certainly
    • perché non… – why don’t (we/you)…
    • perché no – why not
    • vorresti…? (informal) / vorrebbe…? (formal) – would you like to…
    • vorrei…- I’d like to…
    • ti piacerebbe…? (informal) / le piacerebbe…? (formal) – would you like to…
    • mi piacerebbe… – I’d like to…
    • ti va… ? (informal) / le va… ?(formal) – would you like to…
    • (non) mi va – I’d like to (I don’t want to)

    Read the examples below. Practice inviting, accepting, and declining with a partner by replacing passeggiata with other activities you know (cinema, bar, teatro, gelato, pizza, partita di calcio).

    Inviting

    • Vuoi fare una passeggiata?
    • Ti va di prendere un gelato?
    • Ti piacerebbe andare al bar?
    • Perché non facciamo una gita sabato?
    • Vogliamo andare insieme al cinema?

    Accepting

    • Sì, va bene.
    • Sì, volentieri.
    • Che bell’idea!
    • Perfetto, ci sto.
    • Mi piacerebbe molto.

    Declining

    • Mi dispiace, ma non posso, devo lavorare.
    • Mi dispiace, ho già un impegno.
    • Non mi interessa, ma grazie lo stesso.
    • Vorrei, ma non posso proprio.
    • Questa volta no, ma un’altra volta sì.

    Dialoghi

    Read the dialogues below. Practice them with a partner, then change some details (day, time, activity) to create your own version.

    Esempio 1
    Manuela: Ti va di andare a teatro sabato sera?
    Anna: Sì, volentieri. A che ora?
    Manuela: Alle 21.
    Anna: Ci vediamo lì alle 20.45?
    Manuela: Perfetto.

    Esempio 2
    Manuela: Ti va di andare a teatro sabato sera?
    Anna: Mi dispiace, non posso, devo lavorare al ristorante.
    Manuela: Capisco. E sei libera venerdì sera?
    Anna: Sì.
    Manuela: Allora perché non andiamo venerdì?
    Anna: Va bene

    Un passo alla volta

    Read these common expressions and try them out in class. Notice how natural they sound in everyday Italian.

    • Devo scappare! = I have to run!
    • Posso offrirti un caffè? = Can I buy you a coffee?
    • Vuoi venire con noi? = Do you want to come with us?

    Pay attention as you listen to Italians speak: you’ll hear these verbs everywhere, from casual chats with friends to polite exchanges at the bar.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Chattiamo!

    Complete the chat with the correct form of volere, potere, or dovere.

    Tu: Ciao! Dove ______(1) andare in Toscana?
    Amico/a: Preferisco andare a Firenze, ma ______ (2) andare a trovare mia nonna a Pisa.
    Tu: Che bell’idea. Io ______(3) vedere tanti posti diversi. Quanti soldi ______(4) spendere?
    Amico/a: Ho risparmiato duemila dollari! Noi ______(5) creare un bel budget.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    La giornata della mia mamma

    Fill in the blanks with the correct form.

    Ogni mattina la mia mamma ______ (1. dovere) andare a lavoro. ______ (2. volere) bere un caffè prima di uscire. Io e la mia mamma ______ (3. dovere) sentirci prima delle 10. Lei ______ (4. potere) andare fuori a pranzo se ______ (5. volere).

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    La vita degli studenti

    Work in groups. Complete the table with what students at your school devono, possono, and vogliono fare. Then compare your answers with the class.

    Diritti e Doveri (Rights and Duties)
    Devono Possono Vogliono
         
         
         
    Exercise \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    Organizza il tuo fine settimana.

    Work with a partner. Take turns inviting each other to do different activities. Use volere, potere, dovere plus time expressions and adverbs (stasera, domani, spesso, volentieri). Be sure to:

    1. Make at least two invitations.

    2. Accept one invitation and decline one politely.

    3. Suggest an alternative day, time, or place.

    4. End by agreeing on a concrete plan.

    Esempio

    – Vuoi andare al cinema domani sera?
    – Mi dispiace, non posso, devo studiare. Però posso uscire sabato pomeriggio.
    – Allora andiamo a prendere un gelato sabato?
    – Sì, volentieri!

    Planning Grid
    As you work with your partner, complete the table below with the details of your plans.

    Planning Grid
    Attività Giorno Ora Con chi
           
           
           

    Ora tocca a te! Writing Task

    Write a short paragraph (5–6 sentences) about your weekend plans using volere, potere, and dovere. Use at least two adverbs (spesso, domani, qui, volentieri).

    Esempio
    Questo fine settimana voglio andare al parco con i miei amici. Non posso uscire venerdì perché devo lavorare. Sabato pomeriggio posso andare al cinema e voglio mangiare una pizza dopo. La domenica devo studiare molto, ma posso anche riposarmi un po’. Voglio passare una giornata tranquilla.


    4.3.1: Ti va di uscire stasera? is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.