debías
/deh-BEE-ahs/
you should (have)
When you use debías (you should have), you are referring to a past obligation or advice that was given.
debías(verb)
you should (have)
?past obligation or advice
,you were supposed to
?past plan or expectation
you ought to (have)
?strong advice
📝 In Action
Me dijiste que debías llamarme anoche.
A2You told me you were supposed to call me last night.
Debías poner más atención a lo que te explicaban.
B1You should have paid more attention to what they were explaining to you.
¿Por qué no viniste? Debías estar aquí a las ocho.
A2Why didn't you come? You were supposed to be here at eight.
💡 Grammar Points
Tense Focus: The Imperfect
"Debías" uses the imperfect tense, which means the obligation (should/supposed to) was ongoing, habitual, or existed in the past without a specific end date.
Giving Past Advice
When giving advice about something that happened in the past, 'debías' often functions like 'you should have' in English, expressing that you failed to meet an expectation.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Preterite vs. Imperfect
Mistake: "Using 'debiste' (preterite) when giving past advice: 'Debiste estudiar más.'"
Correction: While 'debiste' means 'you had to' (and sometimes 'you must have'), 'debías' (imperfect) is much more common and softer for giving advice or stating a general past expectation.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Infinitive
'Debías' is almost always followed immediately by a verb in its base form (infinitive): 'debías ir' (you should go), 'debías comer' (you should eat).
The phrase debías (you owed) refers to a financial debt or an obligation to repay something of value.
📝 In Action
Cuando vivías aquí, siempre me debías diez dólares.
A2When you lived here, you always owed me ten dollars.
Según la cuenta, tú debías el doble que yo.
B1According to the bill, you owed double what I did.
💡 Grammar Points
The Imperfect for Ongoing Debt
Using the imperfect ('debías') emphasizes that the debt was a continuous state or an ongoing obligation in the past, not a one-time transaction.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: debías
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'debías' to mean 'you owed money'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'debías' and 'debiste'?
'Debías' (imperfect) describes a continuous or general obligation in the past ('You were supposed to do this' or 'You always owed me money'). 'Debiste' (preterite) describes a completed past obligation or is often used to express strong probability in the past ('You must have left at eight').
Is 'debías' formal or informal?
'Debías' is the 'tú' form, meaning it is used when speaking informally to one person (a friend, family member, or child). For formal situations, you would use 'debía' (usted form).