loro dovevano

had to, were supposed to

→ dovere

dovev must; owe + ano they imperfect

auxiliary · 3rd-person plural, imperfect tense Uncommon #8,763

had to, were supposed to The exact meaning depends on context: it can express necessity or an expectation/obligation in the past.

IT: Dovevano partire alle otto.

EN: They had to leave at eight.

Conjugation of dovere

Indicative imperfect

	Singular	Plural
First	dovevo	dovevamo
Second	dovevi	dovevate
Third	doveva	dovevano

dovute

Dicono che i suoi peccati non dovevano lasciarlo vivere in pace.

They say his sins should not let him live in peace.

— Pentimento (1987)

Dovevano cambiare il loro piano.

They had to change their plan.

Dovevano parlare con qualcuno che aveva parlato con Ayrton Senna.

They had to talk to someone who had talked to Ayrton Senna.

— Senna (2010)

I tuoi non dovevano metterti al mondo.

Your parents should never have brought you into this world.

— Central do Brasil (1998)

Tutti dovevano essere portati giù!

Everyone had to be taken downstairs!

— [REC] (2007)

I libri di suo padre dovevano valere cinque volte tanto.

His father’s books must have been worth five times as much.

Ho comprato dieci matite, metà delle quali dovevano essere date a mio fratello.

I bought ten pencils, half of which were to be given to my brother.

Dovevano chiedere a te di fare il rinfresco.

They should have asked you to do the refreshments.

— Love Actually - L'amore davvero (2003)

Dovevano tornare sulla Terra ma avevano superato il punto di non ritorno.

They were supposed to return to Earth but they had passed the point of no return.

— Un giorno di ordinaria follia (1993)

Ma dovevano venire anche oggi?

But were they supposed to come today too?

— Perfect Blue (1998)

Loro dovevano prendere una decisione-una decisione immediata.

They had to make a decision – an immediate decision.

Ora dovevano solo completare i lavori.

Now all they had to do was finish the work.

Dei tanti che dovevano tradire doveva essere proprio Himmler?

Of the many who had to betray, did it have to be Himmler?

— La caduta - Gli ultimi giorni di Hitler (2004)

Tom e Mary dovevano incontrarci qui.

Tom and Mary were supposed to meet us here.

Non gli ho detto che dovevano spaccare la faccia agli avversari!

I didn't tell him they had to punch their opponents in the face!

— L'onda (2008)

Tom e Mary si sono scusati per non aver fatto quello che dovevano fare.

Tom and Mary apologized for not doing what they were supposed to do.

Aveva ragione lei e tutti dovevano ammetterlo alla fine.

She was right and everyone had to admit it in the end.

Dovevano arrivare oggi.

They were supposed to arrive today.

— Niente di nuovo sul fronte occidentale (2022)

Comprai dieci matite, metà delle quali dovevano essere date a mio fratello.

I bought ten pencils, half of which were to be given to my brother.

Non avevano più soldi e dovevano chiedere aiuto ai parenti per andare avanti.

They had no money left and had to ask their relatives for help to get by.

Dovevano chiamare me Black Mamba, cazzo.

They should’ve called me Black Mamba, for fuck’s sake.

— Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (2011)

Avevano perso il treno delle otto e dovevano aspettare quello delle dieci e mezza.

They had missed the eight o'clock train and had to wait for the ten-thirty one.

Dovevano stare lì tutto il giorno?

Were they supposed to stay there all day?

Tutti sapevano cosa dovevano fare.

Everyone knew what they had to do.

Tutti dovevano imparare l'inglese.

Everyone had to learn English.

Tom e Mary dovevano correre.

Tom and Mary had to run.

Forse dovevano fargli altre domande.

Maybe they should have asked him more questions.

— Mystic River (2003)

Dovevano andare di notte.

They had to go at night.

— Cidade dos Homens (2007)

Dovevano esserci pirati anche adesso.

There must be pirates around even now.

Dopotutto, dovevano stare loro davanti.

After all, they had to be in front.

— Vite vendute (1953)

E non dovevano mangiarmi tutte le noccioline.

And they didn't have to eat all my peanuts.

— Crimini e misfatti (1989)

Loro dovevano proteggerti.

They were supposed to protect you.

Inoltre, dovevano uscire separatamente, perché erano apprendisti.

Besides, they had to leave separately because they were apprentices.

In qualche modo, anche i libri dovevano nascere così.

Somehow, books had to be born this way too.

Si dovevano sposare lo scorso mese.

They were supposed to get married last month.

Tutto ciò che dovevano fare era presentarsi in orario.

All they had to do was show up on time.

Decise che gli uccelli non dovevano stare in gabbia.

He decided that birds should not be kept in cages.

— I Tenenbaum (2001)