There should be......

Question

How would you say in Spanish:

There should be a policeman over there.

Context: I have just driven past a traffic incident and I said to my wife "there should be a policemen over there".

Como siempre, gracias de antemano mis amigos

Good one =) - NikkiLR, Nov 4, 2011

A policeman. - macapi, Nov 4, 2011

Answer 1

I am saying "there should be...." as in a present event - he should be there now!

Debería haber expresses exactly that. It's a present event.

¡Deberías comer más! You should eat more! (right now)

Debería haber estado habido = there should have been.

You need the verb "haber", not "estar" (note that There+ to be = Haber-->There is=Hay)

Debería haber = there should be. Am I right?

Absolutely

Yay, the penny has finally dropped ;-) I completely understand this now. You are the best mi amiga :) - billygoat, Nov 4, 2011

Pero, "Debería haber un policía por ahí que no muerde" ......... por lo menos en México,ja,ja - 005faa61, Nov 4, 2011

Answer 2

Hola, Billy!

Debería haber un policía por ahí

I need to put this in my notes =) - NikkiLR, Nov 4, 2011

or por allí/allá - Deanski, Nov 4, 2011

gracias Cogu! This is where my confusion started, because I know in Spanish we can say this, but in English this transalates as "should have been" as in a past event. I am saying "there should be...." as in a present event - he should be there now! - billygoat, Nov 4, 2011

is it still deberia haber.... in this context? - billygoat, Nov 4, 2011

ah I think I understand now :) 'deberia haber estado = there should have been. Deberia haber = there should be. Am I right? - billygoat, Nov 4, 2011

Answer 3

I would go with:

Debe de estar un policía por allí, but maybe it should be

Debe de haber un policía por allí, it being an imporsonal statement.

"debe de" expresses possibility - Deanski, Nov 4, 2011

I was taught that debe de expresses obligation. - Jeremias, Nov 4, 2011