Tenías que o tendrías que...

Question

Okay, I am studying grammar again. It seems that there are innumerable ways to say "you should" but I'm wondering if there are subtle differences or if some ways are used more commonly than others. For example, my book says that using "tener que" plus the infinitive in the conditional is correct:

Tendrías que ponerte a dieta.

But, according to the book, the imperfect is used more often--even though it is not technically correct:

Tenías que ponerte a dieta.

Is this true? Are there places where this would be considered "normal"?

Before today, I would have said "deberías ponerte..." or maybe "hay que ponerte..." But I am trying to expand my repertoire.

Thank you!

Or just, debes ponerte, no? - Jeremias, Oct 20, 2011

To me, "debes ponerte" is more like as "you must". - 00e657d4, Oct 20, 2011

Answer 1

Hi MLucie,

Aquí vas a encontrar un enlace a wordreference.com con respecto a este tema.

Should in Spanish

The examples you give are not even mentioned. However, the imperfect subjunctive can be used.

Deberías haber pensado en esto antes. Or

Debieras haber pensado en esto antes.

The indicative present - debes ir, for example, is also not mentioned. However it seems to me that, at least where I have been in Latin America, this is also common.

Yes, I don't find them mentioned either. That's why I'm asking! :-) - MLucie, Oct 20, 2011