Debí haber

Question

Necesito tu ayuda foreros. No entiendo muy bien lo de "Debí haber".

"Debí haber ido" = "I had to have gone" / "I needed to have gone"

"Debería haber ido" = "I should have gone"

¿Es correcto? Si alguien me puede explicar la diferencia entre los dos lo agredecería.

Necesito (de) su ayuda.... - chileno, Nov 9, 2013

Good question! - annierats, Nov 9, 2013

This subject drives me crazy!! I think I'll put it on my list of lessons to write :) - Kiwi-Girl, Nov 11, 2013

Kiwi-Girl, Please do, lol. - rodneyp, Nov 11, 2013

Answer 1

Please explain, all in English, don't even touch Spanish.

I must have left my keys in the house. This is a supposition about a past action. There is a level of uncertainty but it is what I believe to be true. So... I must have gone....but I truly do not remember going.

I should have left my keys in the house. This is something that you wish you did but clearly did not do. Currently an impossibility.

Must 'have' (not 'of') - Kiwi-Girl, Nov 9, 2013

Thanks Kiwi. - gringojrf, Nov 9, 2013

Good catch Kiwi. Although incorrect, it is very common to hear "must of" - rodneyp, Nov 9, 2013

Will you just sick to the phrases I gave you? ":-D - chileno, Nov 10, 2013

It is the same whether I use my keys or gone. I must have gone. Supposition. I should have gone. Impossibility, lost opportunity. - gringojrf, Nov 10, 2013

:) debí= must it was an obligation but i didn't/ debería= should lost opportunity - chileno, Nov 10, 2013

Answer 2

My take:

Debí haber ido-- I should have gone.

Debería haber ido-- I ought to have gone

As I'm Swedish I decline the task of exactly defining the difference in English..

Hi annie, as far as I know there is no difference in should and ought. Except that ought is a bit archiac, in my opinion. - gringojrf, Nov 9, 2013

Not in England, we say ' out to' all the time! You ought to visit us! - annierats, Nov 9, 2013

There you go.... :-D - chileno, Nov 9, 2013

Annie I have visited. The food is terrible, and you all talk funny. lol - gringojrf, Nov 10, 2013

Answer 3

That's the thing with should.... and must

I should have gone = I must have gone in English?

Please explain, all in English, don't even touch Spanish.

:-D

Answer 4

Debí haber ido = I must have gone

My guess.

I agree with you on Debería haber ido = I should have gone.