Italian Phrase
Dobbiamo fare un controllo dei precedenti.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘We need to carry out a background check.’ It is a formal way to say that a verification of a person’s past records (criminal, financial, employment, etc.) is required.
When to use
Use this phrase in professional settings such as HR meetings, police investigations, rental agreements, or any situation where a formal verification of someone’s history is required. It conveys a sense of duty and procedural formality.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Dobbiamofareuncontrollodeiprecedenti
Dobbiamo
First‑person plural present of the modal verb *dovere* (must/need to). It is followed by an infinitive.
fare + infinitive
After a modal verb, the main verb stays in the infinitive; *fare* means ‘to do/make’.
un
Indefinite article for masculine singular nouns.
controllo
Masculine singular noun meaning ‘check, inspection, review’.
dei
Contraction of *di + i*; it introduces a plural noun and translates as ‘of the’.
precedenti
Plural noun meaning ‘records, background, past deeds’; often used in the fixed phrase *controllo dei precedenti* (background check).
🗨In Conversation
Dobbiamo fare un controllo dei precedenti prima di assumere il nuovo candidato.
We need to do a background check before hiring the new candidate.
Sì, provvederò a inviare la richiesta al dipartimento risorse umane.
Yes, I’ll arrange for the HR department to handle it.
✕Common Mistakes
Dobbiamo fare un controllo precedenti.
The noun *controllo* needs the article *un* and the preposition *dei* before the plural noun.
Dobbiamo fare un controllo di precedenti.
When the noun is plural, the correct preposition is the contracted *dei* (di + i).
Dobbiamo fare un controllare dei precedenti.
After *dovere* you use the infinitive *fare*, not the gerund *controllare*.
↔Alternatives
Dobbiamo verificare i precedenti.
We need to verify the records.
È necessario controllare i precedenti.
It is necessary to check the background.
Occorre fare un controllo dei precedenti.
A background check is required.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, background checks are regulated by privacy laws (GDPR and the Italian Data Protection Code). They are common in sectors like finance, security, and public administration, but employers must obtain the candidate’s consent before accessing personal records. Using the phrase in a polite, formal register shows respect for these legal constraints.