Bucket list
Lista dei desideri
- Talk about your bucket list and future plans
- Giving advice: "dovresti", "potresti"
This lesson focuses on expressing wishes and giving advice using "dovresti" and "potresti". Learn to talk about your bucket list, future plans, and career goals with useful phrases like "lista dei desideri", "viaggiare", and "imparare".
Listening and reading
Start this class by listening to the audio and completing the corresponding exercises.
A2.31.1 Dialogo
La lista delle cento cose da fare prima di morire
The list of one hundred things to do before you die
Vocabulary (16) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Sconosciuto
Unknown
2
Realizare un desiderio
To fulfil a wish
3
L'avventura
The adventure
4
Impossibile
Impossible
5
L'inizio
The beginning
Esercizio 2: Conversation exercise
Istruzione:
- Cosa volevi fare da grande quando eri bambino? (What did you want to be when you were a child?)
- Quali progetti hai per il futuro? Ti piacerebbe cambiare lavoro a breve? (What plans do you have for the future? Would you like to change your job anytime soon?)
- Come li realizzerai? (How will you accomplish them?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
Quando ero piccolo volevo diventare un pompiere. When I was little I wanted to become a firefighter. |
|
Da bambino sognavo di diventare un medico. As a child I dreamed of becoming a doctor. |
|
Voglio avere più responsabilità nel mio lavoro in futuro. I want to have more responsibility in my job in the future. |
|
Voglio essere il capo della mia azienda tra qualche anno. I want to be the boss of my company in a few years. |
|
Vorrei cambiare professione presto perché non sono felice con il mio attuale lavoro. I would like to change my profession soon because I am not happy with my current job. |
|
Andrò di nuovo all'università per diventare insegnante. I will go to university again to become a teacher. |
| ... |
Exercise 3: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 4: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Dovresti iniziare a ______ la tua lista dei desideri per il futuro.
(You should start to ______ your wish list for the future.)2. Potresti ______ per il mondo e visitare luoghi sconosciuti.
(You could ______ around the world and visit unknown places.)3. Dovresti ______ in grande e puntare su nuove avventure.
(You should ______ big and aim for new adventures.)4. Potresti ______ di vivere in un altro paese per conoscere meglio la cultura italiana.
(You could ______ to live in another country to get to know Italian culture better.)Exercise 5: Wishlist
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Realizzare - Realizzare
Condizionale presente
- io realizzerei
- tu realizzeresti
- lui/lei realizzerebbe
- noi realizzeremmo
- voi realizzereste
- loro realizzerebbero
Sognare - Sognare
Condizionale presente
- io sognerei
- tu sogneresti
- lui/lei sognerebbe
- noi sogneremmo
- voi sognereste
- loro sognerebbero
Desiderare - Desiderare
Condizionale presente
- io desidererei
- tu desidereresti
- lui/lei desidererebbe
- noi desidereremmo
- voi desiderereste
- loro desidererebbero
Dovere - Dovere
Condizionale presente
- io dovrei
- tu dovresti
- lui/lei dovrebbe
- noi dovremmo
- voi dovreste
- loro dovrebbero
Potere - Potere
Condizionale presente
- io potrei
- tu potresti
- lui/lei potrebbe
- noi potremmo
- voi potreste
- loro potrebbero
Exercise 6: Dare consigli: "dovresti", "potresti"
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Giving advice: "dovresti", "potresti"
Show translation Show answersDovresti, potresti, dovresti, dovremmo, Potresti
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Realizzare to accomplish Share Copied!
Condizionale presente
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| (io) realizzerei | I would accomplish |
| (tu) realizzeresti | You would accomplish |
| (lui/lei) realizzerebbe | he/she would accomplish |
| (noi) realizzeremmo | we would accomplish |
| (voi) realizzereste | you would accomplish |
| (loro) realizzerebbero | they would accomplish |
Sognare to dream Share Copied!
Condizionale presente
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| (io) sognerei | I would dream |
| (tu) sogneresti | You would dream |
| (lui/lei) sognerebbe | he/she would dream |
| (noi) sogneremmo | we would dream |
| (voi) sognereste | you would dream |
| (loro) sognerebbero | they would dream |
Desiderare to wish Share Copied!
Condizionale presente
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| (io) desidererei | I would wish |
| (tu) desidereresti | You would wish |
| (lui/lei) desidererebbe | He/she would wish |
| (noi) desidereremmo | we would wish |
| (voi) desiderereste | you would wish |
| (loro) desidererebbero | they would wish |
Don't see progress when learning on your own? Study this material with a certified teacher!
Do you want to practice Italian today? That is possible! Just contact one of our teachers today.
Lesson Overview: Talking About Your Bucket List in Italian
This lesson focuses on expressing your dreams, desires, and future plans using polite advice forms and the conditional mood in Italian. It introduces useful verbs and expressions to discuss personal goals and give recommendations, centered around the theme of a "bucket list." The content is designed for A2 learners, providing practical language tools for everyday conversation.
Key Grammar Points
- Modal Verbs for Advice: "dovresti" (you should) and "potresti" (you could) are used to give suggestions politely.
- The Conditional Present Tense: Verbs like "desiderare" (to desire), "fare" (to do/make), "potere" (to be able to), "volere" (to want), and "dovere" (to have to) are conjugated in the conditional to express wishes, possibilities, and polite advice.
Practical Vocabulary and Phrases
The lesson emphasizes phrases to talk about future wishes and plans, such as:
- Ho scritto la mia lista dei desideri. – I've written my bucket list.
- Dovresti andare in primavera. – You should go in spring.
- Potresti imparare qualche parola di giapponese. – You could learn some Japanese words.
- Vorrei migliorare il mio inglese. – I would like to improve my English.
Conversation Practice
The dialogues encourage discussing personal goals in various contexts: planning trips, career ambitions, or hobby aspirations. Using "dovresti" and "potresti" helps learners practice giving and receiving advice naturally.
Verb Conjugation Exercises
Multiple-choice questions on the correct use of verbs in the conditional present reinforce understanding of verb forms. For example, completing sentences like "Dovresti ______ una lista dei desideri" with the correct verb "fare."
Short Story Application
The mini story about Luca and Maria illustrates how to express desires and advice using conditional verbs in context. This helps consolidate learning by showing grammar and vocabulary in real-life-like dialogue.
Instruction Language vs. Learning Language
Since the instruction language is English and the target language is Italian, this lesson highlights the importance of modal verbs and conditional mood, which function differently in English and Italian. For instance, English uses "should" and "could" for advice, whereas Italian prefers "dovresti" and "potresti," often followed by the infinitive verb form. Understanding this structure helps English speakers form polite suggestions and discuss possibilities more naturally in Italian.
Useful phrases include:
- Dovresti + infinitive – "You should..." (e.g., Dovresti visitare – You should visit)
- Potresti + infinitive – "You could..." (e.g., Potresti imparare – You could learn)
- Vorrei – "I would like..." (used to express wishes)
These lessons would not be possible without our amazing partners🙏
