Posted by Silvia Piriz

In: Level B1, Verbs Tenses & Conjugation, El Condicional Simple, Modo condicional, Verbo modal, Expressing need and obligation (deber, tener que, haber que, necesitar [que])

To say should or ought to in Spanish, you use:

Auxiliary verb deber conjugated in El Condicional Simple + second verb in the infinitive.

Read and listen to these examples of deber conjugated in El Condicional Simple:

Yo debería probar tus cócteles.I should try your cocktails.

Tú deberías hacer un buen pastel de chocolate.You should make a good chocolate cake.

El pastor debería cuidar a las ovejas.The shepherd should look after the sheep.

Nosotros deberíamos contratar a más trabajadores.We should hire more employees.

Vosotras deberíais coger el toro por los cuernos.You should take the bull by the horns.

Las bailarinas deberían repetir la coreografía.The dancers should rehearse the choreography.

Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics

Expressing need and obligation (deber, tener que, haber que, necesitar [que])

Examples and resources

El pastor debería cuidar a las ovejas.The shepherd should look after the sheep.

Vosotras deberíais coger el toro por los cuernos.You should take the bull by the horns.

Las bailarinas deberían repetir la coreografía.The dancers should rehearse the choreography.

Yo opino que deberían controlar más a los niños.I think that they should supervise the children more.

Nosotros deberíamos contratar a más trabajadores.We should hire more employees.

Tú deberías hacer un buen pastel de chocolate.You should make a good chocolate cake.

Yo debería probar tus cócteles.I should try your cocktails.

Q&A Forum 2 questions, 4 answers

MeghanB2Kwiziq community member

Do we not use deber in the present tense?

So, is it incorrect to say - Debo comer- Is the use of deber covered in other lessons?

Thanks

Asked 1 year ago

Like0Answer2

MeghanB2Kwiziq community member

Okay - think I found the answer. Deber in present tense is more of "must" than should- correct?

Thanks

Like01 year ago

InmaKwiziq team member

Hi Meghan

Yes, you are right. "Debo comer" means "I must eat" and "Debería comer" means "I should eat".

Inma :))

Like01 year ago

Meghan asked:View original

Do we not use deber in the present tense?

So, is it incorrect to say - Debo comer- Is the use of deber covered in other lessons?

Thanks

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AlanC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Why Conditional?

Usually the conditional tense adds "would" to the verb. E.g. comería, would eat; habría, would have; vendría, would come, etc. But "should" is not the same as "would". It implies a duty or obligation, whereas "would" does not.

So debería etc. seems to be an exception because it means "should" not "would"!

Asked 1 year ago

Like0Answer2

InmaKwiziq team member

Hi Alan

I see what you mean, but regardless of the use or meaning, in Spanish we conjugate Deber in the conditional, to express a suggestion actually, more than obligation. As it is a modal verb, it works different to other verbs. The "would" meaning wouldn't work with "deber" the same way in English you wouldn't say "You would must" or anything like that.

Inma

Like01 year ago

AlanC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thanks for tackling this question! Alan.

Like01 year ago

Alan asked:View original