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Lesson 3 of 16

Wanting, Knowing and Liking

Say what you want, what you know and what you like. The verbs volere, sapere and the mi piace pattern open the door to real opinions.

⏱ About 50 minutes 22 phrases 25 exercises

What you will learn

  • Conjugate volere and sapere in the present tense
  • Use modal verb + infinitive: voglio + infinitive
  • Use mi piace and mi piacciono correctly
  • Understand noun gender and form basic plurals
  • Talk about books, films, music, food and languages
  • Use essere d'accordo to agree in conversation

Quick review

Say these aloud before you start. They come from earlier lessons.

  • Mi chiamo Anna. My name is Anna.
  • Sono di Roma. I am from Rome.
  • Faccio il medico. I am a doctor.
  • Come stai? How are you?
  • Non lavoro qui. I do not work here.

Theory

voglio + infinitive: the desire machine

Volere (to want) is your key to polite and direct requests. When you know a person, voglio + infinitive is natural: Voglio un caffè. With strangers, prefer vorrei (Lesson 15), but understand voglio first.

The pattern is simple: voglio/vuoi/vuole + verb infinitive. Voglio imparare l'italiano. Notice the -ere and -ire verbs are unchanged: scrivere, leggere, dormire.

  • Voglio un caffè. I want a coffee.
  • Vuoi guardare un film? Do you want to watch a film?
  • Vogliamo mangiare adesso. We want to eat now.
Flashcards with the present-tense conjugations of volere and sapere.

sapere: knowing how, knowing facts

Sapere means both 'to know a fact' and 'to know how to do something'. For skills, follow it with an infinitive: So guidare (I can drive, I know how to drive).

Unlike voglio, sapere changes in the io and loro forms: so, sai, sa, sappiamo, sapete, sanno. Learn the io form first — So parlare inglese is a sentence you will say constantly.

  • So parlare inglese. I know how to speak English.
  • Non so dove abita. I do not know where he lives.
  • Sai nuotare? Can you swim?

mi piace: liking things in Italian

Italian builds 'I like' backwards: mi piace means 'it is pleasing to me'. Mi piace il caffè. When what you like is plural, the verb changes: mi piacciono (they are pleasing to me). Mi piacciono i libri.

So the verb agrees with the thing liked, not with you. One book: mi piace. Two books: mi piacciono. This is the most common beginner mistake in Italian — drill it hard.

  • Mi piace la musica. I like music.
  • Mi piacciono i film italiani. I like Italian films.
  • Ti piace il caffè? Do you like coffee?
Diagram explaining that Italian flips likes: mi piace la pizza for one thing, but mi piacciono i libri for two or more.
Retro travel-poster panels showing agreement after piacere in the past: mi è piaciuto il film and mi è piaciuta la città.

Gender and plurals: il, la, lo

Every Italian noun is masculine or feminine, and the article shows it: il/lo for masculine singular, la for feminine. Lo is used before s+consonant and z: lo studente, lo zaino.

Basic plural: most nouns change -o to -i (il libro → i libri) and -a to -e (la casa → le case). Always learn a noun with its article — the gender is invisible otherwise.

  • il libro → i libri the book → the books
  • la casa → le case the house → the houses
  • lo studente → gli studenti the student → the students
volere and sapere — present tense
volere sapere
io voglio so
tu vuoi sai
lui / lei vuole sa
noi vogliamo sappiamo
voi volete sapete
loro vogliono sanno

Both are followed directly by an infinitive: Voglio partire. So nuotare.

mi piace vs mi piacciono
singular plural
io Mi piace il caffè. Mi piacciono i caffè.
tu Ti piace la pizza? Ti piacciono le pizze?
noi Ci piace il film. Ci piacciono i film.

The verb follows the number of the thing liked, not the person.

Vocabulary

Italian English Pronunciation Audio
volere to want /voˈlere/ voh-LEH-reh
sapere to know (facts, skills) /saˈpere/ sah-PEH-reh
vivere to live /ˈvivere/ VEE-veh-reh
leggere to read /ˈlɛddʒere/ LEHJ-jeh-reh
scrivere to write /ˈskrivere/ SKREE-veh-reh
dormire to sleep /dorˈmire/ dor-MEE-reh
capire to understand /kaˈpire/ kah-PEE-reh
cercare to look for /tʃerˈkare/ chehr-KAH-reh
trovare to find /troˈvare/ troh-VAH-reh
pensare to think /penˈsare/ pehn-SAH-reh
provare to try /proˈvare/ proh-VAH-reh
aiutare to help /ajuˈtare/ ah-yoo-TAH-reh
il libro book /ˈlibro/ LEE-broh
il film film /ˈfilm/ FEELM
la musica music /ˈmuzika/ MOO-zee-kah
il caffè coffee /kafˈfɛ/ kahf-FEH
la pizza pizza /ˈpittsa/ PEET-tsah
il vino wine /ˈvino/ VEE-noh
la lingua language, tongue /ˈliŋɡwa/ LEEN-gwah
la parola word /paˈrɔla/ pah-ROH-lah
la casa house, home /ˈkasa/ KAH-zah
lo zaino backpack /ˈdzaino/ DZY-noh
un po' a little, a bit /um ˈpɔ/ oon POH
sempre always /ˈsɛmpre/ SEHM-preh
curioso curious /kuˈrjɔzo/ koo-RYOH-zoh
onesto honest /oˈnɛsto/ oh-NEHS-toh
generoso generous /dʒeneˈrozo/ jeh-neh-ROH-zoh

Ready-to-use phrases

Voglio un caffè.

I want a coffee.

IPA /ˈvɔʎʎo um kafˈfɛ/

Say it VOH-lyoh oon kahf-FEH

With strangers, the polite version is Vorrei un caffè (Lesson 15).

neutral cafe food

Che cosa vuoi?

What do you want?

IPA /ke ˈkɔza ˈvwɔi/

Say it keh KOH-zah VWOY

informal questions

Vuoi un caffè?

Do you want a coffee?

IPA /ˈvwɔi um kafˈfɛ/

Say it VWOY oon kahf-FEH

informal cafe questions

Voglio imparare l'italiano.

I want to learn Italian.

IPA /ˈvɔʎʎo im paˈrare litaˈljano/

Say it VOH-lyoh eem-pah-RAH-reh lee-tah-LYAH-noh

neutral study languages

So parlare inglese.

I can speak English.

IPA /so parˈlare iŋˈɡleze/

Say it soh par-LAH-reh een-GLEH-zeh

So + infinitive means 'I know how to'.

neutral languages abilities

Non so nuotare.

I cannot swim.

IPA /non so nwoˈtare/

Say it nohn soh nwoh-TAH-reh

neutral abilities negation

Sai guidare?

Can you drive?

IPA /sai ɡwiˈdare/

Say it SY gwee-DAH-reh

informal abilities questions

Mi piace la musica.

I like music.

IPA /mi ˈpjatʃe la ˈmuzika/

Say it mee PYAH-cheh lah MOO-zee-kah

neutral likes free time

Mi piacciono i film italiani.

I like Italian films.

IPA /mi ˈpjatʃono i ˈfilm itaˈljani/

Say it mee PYAH-choh-noh ee FEELM ee-tah-LYAH-nee

Plural thing → mi piacciono.

neutral likes free time

Ti piace la pizza?

Do you like pizza?

IPA /ti ˈpjatʃe la ˈpittsa/

Say it tee PYAH-cheh lah PEET-tsah

informal likes food questions

Non mi piace il vino.

I do not like wine.

IPA /non mi ˈpjatʃe il ˈvino/

Say it nohn mee PYAH-cheh eel VEE-noh

non comes before mi piace.

neutral likes negation

Leggo un libro ogni sera.

I read a book every evening.

IPA /ˈlɛɡɡo um ˈlibro ˈoɲɲi ˈsera/

Say it LEH-goh oon LEE-broh OH-nyee SEH-rah

neutral books daily routine

Scrivo un'email.

I am writing an email.

IPA /ˈskrivo un eˈmail/

Say it SKREE-voh oon ee-MAYL

neutral work study

Capisco un po' d'italiano.

I understand a little Italian.

IPA /kaˈpisko um pɔ ditaˈljano/

Say it kah-PEES-koh oon POH dee-tah-LYAH-noh

capire uses -isc in io: capisco.

neutral languages study

Non capisco.

I do not understand.

IPA /non kaˈpisko/

Say it nohn kah-PEES-koh

Learn this one on day one — you will need it constantly.

neutral languages problems

Cerco il mio libro.

I am looking for my book.

IPA /ˈtʃerko il ˈmio ˈlibro/

Say it CHEHR-koh eel MEE-oh LEE-broh

neutral problems

Ho trovato il ristorante!

I found the restaurant!

IPA /o troˈvato il ristoˈrante/

Say it oh troh-VAH-toh eel rees-toh-RAHN-teh

neutral past travel

Penso che sia buono.

I think it is good.

IPA /ˈpɛnso ke ˈsia ˈbwɔno/

Say it PEHN-soh keh SEE-ah BWOH-noh

A handy phrase; the che-clause is simplified here for beginners.

neutral opinions

Puoi aiutarmi?

Can you help me?

IPA /ˈpwɔi ajuˈtarmi/

Say it PWOY ah-yoo-TAHR-mee

informal help requests

Sono d'accordo.

I agree.

IPA /ˈsono dakˈkordo/

Say it SOH-noh dahk-KOR-doh

neutral opinions

Vivo a Firenze da tre anni.

I have lived in Florence for three years.

IPA /ˈvivo a fiˈrɛntse da tre ˈanni/

Say it VEE-voh ah fee-REHN-tseh dah treh AH-nee

neutral places

Dove dormi quando viaggi?

Where do you sleep when you travel?

IPA /ˈdove ˈdormi ˈkwando ˈvjaddʒi/

Say it DOH-veh DOR-mee KWAHN-doh VYAH-jee

informal questions travel

Dialogues

At the bookshop in Bologna

Tom wants to buy a book and asks for help.

  1. Tom

    Buongiorno, cerco un libro in italiano.

    Good morning, I am looking for a book in Italian.

  2. Libraia

    Buongiorno! Che tipo di libro vuole?

    Good morning! What kind of book would you like?

  3. Tom

    Un libro facile. Voglio leggere e capire bene.

    An easy book. I want to read and understand well.

  4. Libraia

    Questo è perfetto per chi impara. Mi piace molto.

    This one is perfect for learners. I like it a lot.

  5. Tom

    Quanto costa?

    How much does it cost?

  6. Libraia

    Dodici euro. Lo prendo? Sappiamo che le piace leggere!

    Twelve euros. Shall I wrap it? We can see you like reading!

Planning a film night

Sara and Leo decide what to do this evening.

  1. Sara

    Vuoi guardare un film stasera?

    Do you want to watch a film tonight?

  2. Leo

    Sì, mi piacciono i film italiani. Che film?

    Yes, I like Italian films. Which film?

  3. Sara

    Non so. Sai consigliare qualcosa?

    I do not know. Can you recommend something?

  4. Leo

    Mi piace La grande bellezza, ma è un po' lungo.

    I like La grande bellezza, but it is a bit long.

  5. Sara

    Non importa. Voglio provare qualcosa di nuovo!

    Never mind. I want to try something new!

  6. Leo

    Perfetto, sono d'accordo!

    Perfect, I agree!

Exercises

Multiple Choice Exercise 1

Choose the correct form of volere.

Io ___ un caffè.
Multiple Choice Exercise 2

Choose the correct form of sapere.

Tu ___ guidare?
Conjugation Exercise 3

Write the correct form.

volere — loro (present tense)
Conjugation Exercise 4

Write the correct form.

sapere — noi (present tense)
Conjugation Exercise 5

Write the correct form.

leggere — io (present tense)
Conjugation Exercise 6

Write the correct form.

capire — lui (present tense)
Fill Gap Exercise 7

Fill the gap with the correct form of piacere.

Mi ___ la musica. (singular thing)
Fill Gap Exercise 8

Fill the gap with the correct form of piacere.

Mi ___ i film italiani. (plural things)
Translate To Italian Exercise 9

Translate into Italian.

I want to learn Italian.
Translate To Italian Exercise 10

Translate into Italian.

I can speak English.
Translate To Italian Exercise 11

Translate into Italian.

I like Italian films.
Translate To Italian Exercise 12

Translate into Italian (informal).

Do you like pizza?
Translate To English Exercise 13

Translate into English.

Non so nuotare.
Translate To English Exercise 14

Translate into English.

Non capisco.
Multiple Choice Exercise 15

Choose the correct article.

___ studente (the student)
Multiple Choice Exercise 16

Choose the correct article.

___ libro (the book)
Word Order Exercise 17

Tap the words in the correct order.

Build the sentence: I want to watch a film.
Word Order Exercise 18

Tap the words in the correct order.

Build the sentence: I like the book.
Match Pairs Exercise 19

Tap a verb, then its io form.

Match each verb to its io form.
True False Exercise 20

True or false?

Mi piace is used when the thing liked is plural.
True False Exercise 21

True or false?

lo studente takes lo because it starts with s + consonant.
Listen And Type Exercise 22

Play the audio, then type exactly what you hear.

Listen and write the Italian sentence.
Listen And Choose Exercise 23

Play the audio, then pick the sentence.

Listen and choose what you hear.
Sentence Transform Exercise 24

Remove the negation.

Change: Non capisco. (Make it affirmative)
Flashcard Self Rating Exercise 25

Say the sentence aloud, then reveal and rate yourself.

Mi piacciono i film italiani.

Speak now

Say three true sentences about yourself using each pattern: voglio + infinitive, so + infinitive, and mi piace/mi piacciono. Then ask a partner two questions from this lesson.

  • Voglio imparare l'italiano. I want to learn Italian.
  • So parlare inglese. I can speak English.
  • Mi piace la musica italiana. I like Italian music.
  • Vuoi un caffè? Do you want a coffee?
  • Sono d'accordo! I agree!

Lesson checkpoint

Before you move on, make sure you can do all of this without looking:

  1. Say what you want and what you know how to do
  2. Use mi piace with singular and mi piacciono with plural things
  3. Choose il, lo or la for a new noun
  4. Form the plural of common nouns
  5. Say I agree and I do not understand without hesitation

Remember this

  • volere: voglio, vuoi, vuole, vogliamo, volete, vogliono — + infinitive.
  • sapere: so, sai, sa, sappiamo, sapete, sanno — so + infinitive = I know how to.
  • mi piace = singular thing; mi piacciono = plural thing. The verb follows the thing.
  • il/lo (masculine), la (feminine); plurals: -o→-i, -a→-e, lo→gli.
  • Capisco un po' d'italiano — and Non capisco when you need help.

Go deeper: Modal verbs · Noun gender · Plurals · Present tense · Questions