deberían
deh-veh-REE-ahn
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Ellos deberían llegar a tiempo para la reunión.
A2They should arrive on time for the meeting.
Ustedes deberían probar este plato; es delicioso.
B1You all ought to try this dish; it's delicious.
¿No deberían estar estudiando en lugar de jugar?
A2Shouldn't they be studying instead of playing?
Por la hora, ya deberían haber cerrado la tienda.
B2Given the time, the store must have already closed.
💡 Grammar Points
Soft Advice, Not Command
Using deberían (conditional) is a softer way to give advice than using the present tense (deben), which sounds like a firm order or strong necessity (like 'must').
Use with 'Ustedes'
Deberían is the form used when addressing a group formally ('ustedes'), meaning 'You all should' in Latin America and formal contexts everywhere.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Obligation Tenses
Mistake: "They use *Tienen que* (They have to) when giving simple advice."
Correction: Use *Deberían* for recommendations and *Tienen que* only for rules or strong obligations. 'They should eat healthier' is *Deberían comer más sano*.
⭐ Usage Tips
Past Advice
To talk about what they should have done in the past, always use deberían + haber + the past participle: 'Deberían haber preguntado' (They should have asked).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: deberían
Question 1 of 2
Which English statement correctly translates 'Ustedes deberían venir con nosotros'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between *deben* and *deberían*?
*Deben* (present tense) means 'They must' or 'They have to' and expresses a strong obligation or certainty. *Deberían* (conditional tense) means 'They should' and expresses advice, a recommendation, or a softer obligation.
Does *deberían* always mean 'should'?
Not always. When used to talk about events or facts, *deberían* can mean 'they probably are' or 'they must be,' expressing conjecture or a strong guess based on evidence.