BBC - Languages - Italian Steps

Grammar Tips

More about 'avere' and other irregular verbs - 'volere, fare'

With some verbs, when the endings -are, -ere or -ire are removed, you are left with a stem to which the endings that indicate 'I', 'you', 'we', etc. can be added.

Other common verbs change much more radically. They are known as irregular verbs and include avere, to have, fare, 'to do', volere, 'to want', and andare, 'to go'.

avere
(io) ho
(tu) hai
(lei) ha
(noi) abbiamo
(voi) avete
(loro)hanno

to have
I have (got)
you have (got)
you have (got)
we have (got)
you have (got)
they have (got)

fare
(io) faccio
(tu) fai
(lei) fa
(noi) facciamo
(voi) fate
(loro) fanno

to do
I do
you do
you do
we do
you do
they do

volere
(io) voglio
(tu) vuoi
(lei) vuole
(noi) vogliamo
(voi) volete
(loro)vogliono

to want
I want
you want
you want
we want
you want
they want

andare
(io) vado
(tu) vai
(lei) va
(noi) andiamo
(voi) andate
(loro) vanno

to go
I go
you go
you go
we go
you go
they go

Volere is often used in questions to make an offer, eg Vuole qualcosa? 'Do you want something?', or 'Would you like something?'
Fare is often used in other expressions, such as fare attenzione, 'to pay attention' or fare una passeggiata, 'to go for a stroll'
Avere is used in expressions such as avere bisogno di, 'to need' or avere fame, 'to be hungry'