deberías
/deh-beh-REE-ahs/
you should
This image shows one person giving advice or a recommendation to another, illustrating the primary meaning of 'deberías' (you should).
deberías(Verb)
you should
?giving advice or a recommendation
you ought to
?a slightly more formal suggestion
📝 In Action
Deberías estudiar más para el examen.
A2You should study more for the exam.
Creo que deberías llamar a tus padres.
A2I think you should call your parents.
Deberías probar la paella, está increíble.
B1You should try the paella, it's incredible.
💡 Grammar Points
Giving Friendly Advice
Use 'deberías' to give a suggestion or advice. It's much softer and more polite than 'debes' or 'tienes que'. Just add the base form of another verb right after it, like 'deberías comer' (you should eat).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Deberías' and 'Debes'
Mistake: "Using 'debes' for friendly advice, which can sound too strong, like an order."
Correction: Use 'deberías' for suggestions ('Deberías descansar' - You should rest). Use 'debes' for strong obligations or duties ('Debes pagar los impuestos' - You must pay taxes).
⭐ Usage Tips
The Perfect Suggestion Word
When you want to recommend a movie, a restaurant, or a course of action to a friend, 'deberías' is the perfect word. It shows you care without being bossy.
The exhausted person represents a logical guess ('you must be tired'), showing the use of 'deberías' to express probability.
deberías(Verb)
you must be
?expressing probability or a logical guess
you're probably
?making a supposition
,you should be... by now
?supposing an expected outcome
📝 In Action
Has trabajado todo el día, deberías estar agotado.
B1You've worked all day, you must be exhausted.
Si saliste a las cinco, ya deberías estar en casa.
B1If you left at five, you should be home by now.
Conoces la respuesta, ¿no? Deberías saberla.
B2You know the answer, right? You should know it.
💡 Grammar Points
Making Educated Guesses
You can use 'deberías' to talk about what you think is probably true. It's like saying 'you must be...' or 'you're probably...' based on some evidence. For example, 'Si estudiaste, deberías saber la respuesta' (If you studied, you should know the answer).
⭐ Usage Tips
Spotting the Difference
To know if 'deberías' means 'you should' (advice) or 'you must be' (guess), look at the context. If it's about a choice or action, it's advice. If it's about a state or a fact, it's probably a guess.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: deberías
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'deberías' to make a logical guess, not to give advice?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'deberías' and 'tendrías que'?
'Deberías' is a soft suggestion, like 'you should'. 'Tendrías que' is a bit stronger, more like 'you would have to'. It implies a necessary step to achieve something, while 'deberías' is just friendly advice you can take or leave.
How do I say 'you should have...' for something in the past?
Great question! For past advice, you combine the verb 'haber' with 'deber'. You say 'deberías haber estudiado' which means 'you should have studied'. 'Deberías' stays the same, and the next verb changes.