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Spanish “Deber”: When It Means “Must” and When It Means “Should”
Dieser Beitrag erklärt ein wichtiges Thema der spanischen Grammatik (Text auf Englisch).
Obligation vs Recommendation
The verb DEBER has two translations in English: MUST and TO OWE.
🟢 Debo trabajar hoy. I must work today.
For this reason, in Spanish we call school assignments “deberes”, because they are an obligatory activity.
🟢 Te debo dinero. I owe you money.
For this reason, “debt” is “deuda” in Spanish. In fact, the English word has the same Latin origin as “deber”.
From this comes the fundamental meaning of this verb, which expresses a strong obligation. Compare:
Debo terminar este ejercicio. I must finish this exercise.
Tengo que terminar este ejercicio. I have to finish this exercise.
Both express obligation, although the nuance may vary depending on the context.
Now, in Spanish there is something called the “polite conditional”. This means that we use the conditional to soften something that might otherwise sound like an order. We do this with several verbs. For example:
🟢 Debes comer menos. You must eat less.
🟢 Deberías comer menos. You should eat less.
In this way, the conditional is used to give a recommendation. The same thing happens here:
🟢 ¿Puedes ayudarme? Can you help me?
🟢 ¿Podrías ayudarme? Could you help me?
🟢 Quiero un té con leche. I want a tea with milk.
🟢 Querría un té con leche. I would like a tea with milk. Here we can also use the subjunctive, “quisiera”.
The sentence with the conditional is generally the most appropriate one, because I am not giving an order.
If you are learning Spanish and find explanations like this helpful, I offer personalised online Spanish lessons for students and adults worldwide, including GCSE and A-Level preparation.
Lessons are available in English or German, and I offer a free initial consultation. You can contact me at laura@spanishforlondon.com.
Example from the episode
Remember that you can read the novel that complements this blog, which I am writing alongside these grammar posts, where you can see examples in context of what we are explaining:
→ “DEBERÍAMOS recordar que la miseria también fue doméstica.”
→ “DEBEMOS leer sus libros, entonces.”
Read the full episode here →
Episode 20
Book your first free demo lesson, with no obligation on your behalf, at laura.@spanishforlondon.com.
Bachelor’s degree in Literature (University of Buenos Aires). Spanish and Literature teacher. Researcher and author of Los premios Nobel de literatura. Una lectura crítica (University of Seville). More than 30 years’ experience teaching Spanish to international students.
One-to-one lessons via Zoom.
Abschluss in Literaturwissenschaft (Universität Buenos Aires). Lehrerin für Spanisch und Literatur. Forscherin und Autorin des Buches Los premios Nobel de literatura. Eine lectura crítica (Universität Sevilla). Über 30 Jahre Erfahrung im Unterricht von Spanisch als Fremdsprache.
Einzelunterricht über Zoom.
