Italian Phrase
Dobbiamo finirlo.
Meaning
‘We have to finish it.’ The sentence conveys a collective obligation, usually about a task, project, or piece of work that must be completed soon.
When to use
Use this phrase when a group (you and at least one other person) is responsible for completing something – a report, a meal, a homework assignment, a construction job, etc. It works in both formal and informal contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Dobbiamofinirlo
Dobbiamo
First‑person plural present of the modal verb *dovere*; expresses obligation or necessity (we must).
Finirlo
Infinitive *finire* (to finish) + clitic pronoun *lo* (it). In Italian the pronoun attaches to the infinitive, not to the conjugated verb.
Clitic pronoun placement
When an infinitive follows a modal verb (dovere, potere, volere, etc.), the object pronoun is attached to the infinitive (e.g., *dobbiamo farlo*, *possiamo vederlo*).
🗨In Conversation
Dobbiamo finirlo entro domani.
We have to finish it by tomorrow.
Sì, lavoriamo insieme questa sera.
Yes, let's work on it together tonight.
✕Common Mistakes
Dobbiamo lo finiamo.
The pronoun must attach to the infinitive, not to the conjugated verb.
Dobbiamo finire il progetto.
If the object is explicit, you need the pronoun *lo*; *Dobbiamo finire* means ‘we have to finish (something unspecified)’.
Dobbiamo finirelo.
The correct spelling separates the infinitive and the pronoun: *finirlo*.
↔Alternatives
Dobbiamo completarlo.
We have to complete it.
È necessario che lo finiamo.
It is necessary that we finish it.
Dobbiamo concluderlo.
We have to conclude it.
Cultural Tip
In Italian, *dovere* can sound quite strong. If you want to sound less demanding, you can soften it with *potremmo* (we could) or *dovremmo* (we should). Also, remember that the clitic pronoun always attaches to the infinitive after a modal verb – saying *Dobbiamo lo finiamo* is a common error for beginners.