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.
"deber" in other languages
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 have to, to owe) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.