deber
In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.
1.Presente
Presente
Habitual actions, general truths, and what's happening now.
| yo | debo |
| tú | debes |
| él/ella | debe |
| nosotros | debemos |
| vosotros | debéis |
| ellos/ellas | deben |
Debo estudiar para el examen.
I must study for the exam.
Ellos deben llegar a tiempo.
They must arrive on time.
2.Pretérito Indefinido
Pretérito Indefinido
Completed actions at a specific point in the past.
| yo | debí |
| tú | debiste |
| él/ella | debió |
| nosotros | debimos |
| vosotros | debisteis |
| ellos/ellas | debieron |
Ayer debí ir al médico.
Yesterday I had to go to the doctor.
Ella debió terminar su tarea.
She had to finish her homework.
3.Imperfecto
Imperfecto
Ongoing or repeated actions in the past, descriptions, and background context.
| yo | debía |
| tú | debías |
| él/ella | debía |
| nosotros | debíamos |
| vosotros | debíais |
| ellos/ellas | debían |
Cuando era niño, debía hacer mis deberes.
When I was a child, I had to do my homework.
Siempre debían ayudar a sus padres.
They always had to help their parents.
4.Futuro Simple
Futuro Simple
Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.
| yo | deberé |
| tú | deberás |
| él/ella | deberá |
| nosotros | deberemos |
| vosotros | deberéis |
| ellos/ellas | deberán |
Mañana deberé presentar el informe.
Tomorrow I will have to present the report.
Ellos deberán asistir a la reunión.
They will have to attend the meeting.
5.Condicional
Condicional
Hypothetical situations, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
| yo | debería |
| tú | deberías |
| él/ella | debería |
| nosotros | deberíamos |
| vosotros | deberíais |
| ellos/ellas | deberían |
Yo debería ir al gimnasio más a menudo.
I should go to the gym more often.
Tú deberías hablar con ella.
You should talk to her.
6.Subjuntivo Presente
Subjuntivo Presente
Wishes, doubts, emotions, and subordinate clauses expressing uncertainty.
| yo | deba |
| tú | debas |
| él/ella | deba |
| nosotros | debamos |
| vosotros | debáis |
| ellos/ellas | deban |
Es importante que yo deba cumplir con mis obligaciones.
It's important that I must fulfill my obligations.
Espero que ellos deban ayudar en el proyecto.
I hope they must help with the project.
7.Subjuntivo Imperfecto
Subjuntivo Imperfecto
Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical si-clauses, and polite suggestions.
| yo | debiera |
| tú | debieras |
| él/ella | debiera |
| nosotros | debieramos |
| vosotros | debierais |
| ellos/ellas | debieran |
Si yo debiera elegir, escogería viajar.
If I had to choose, I would choose to travel.
Si ellos debieran estudiar más, tendrían mejores notas.
If they had to study more, they would have better grades.
Related verbs
Common questions
- Is "deber" regular or irregular in Spanish?
- "deber" is a regular -er verb in Spanish. It follows the standard conjugation pattern for -er verbs.
- How do you conjugate "deber" in the present tense?
- In the Presente, "deber" conjugates as: debes, debo, deben, and more. See the full table above.
- What is the past tense of "deber" in Spanish?
- In the Pretérito Indefinido, "deber" conjugates as: debiste, debí, debieron, and more. See the full table above.
- How common is "deber" in Spanish?
- "deber" (to must, to owe) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.