debiera or debería?

Question

which of these two conjugations of deber would one most likely use to say "should have..."; a respected (older) spanish learning program is saying the first, but everything else I see suggests the latter.

The specific context in this older spanish learning program (FSI "Programmatic" from 1970) is "debiera haber abierto...". Everything else I see suggests "Deberia" which, of course, is the conditional, whereas "debiera" is defined as imperfect subjunctive, which this does not appear to be. Is the FSI program incorrect? Or has the use of this form of deber evolved over the decades? (and you should be happy "rac1"; I capitalized "The"!)

Could you please give an example in context. Spanish or English. Also our Translator program is very useful for this. But some context is needed. - Daniela2041, Dec 16, 2014

Use capitals to begin your sentences, please. - rac1, Dec 16, 2014

Can you give the con text, pls. - annierats, Dec 16, 2014

Answer 1

OK, amigo, you have several good answers given to you. I will try to provide something simple and concrete. I wish you could have provided several sentences either in English or Spanish, but I will proceed with what you have.

The answers provided by the other responders are correct.

"debiera haber abierto" I wish I could see what came before "debiera" because that word is in the imperfect subjunctive and usually need a subjunctive trigger. I'll have to withhold my thoughts on that until I know what came before.

In current Spanish usage, the conditional "debería" is the more common. Many of my students use it even when the present tense "debe" is preferred.

"He should study his verbs more." "Debe estudiar más los verbos." Here many of my Latino students use "debería estudiar más los verbos.

"Debiera" is not like "quisiera" which can be used to start a sentence to state what you "would" like.

"Quisera un bistec con papas fritas." "I would like a steak with fried potatoes".

"Debiera" acts a little differently.

The "should have done this or should have done that" can be translated by using the present tense of deber plus the infinitive "haber" plus the past participle of the main verb you are using.

Example. "Debes haber hablado al profesor antes." You should have spoken to the teacher before.

Like I say, before I can definitely know in what sense "debiera" was used, I'll need more of that sentence that you quoted.

That was very clear young lady, even I made sense of it , and that is saying something. thank you so much. - ray76, Dec 17, 2014

Gracias por toda su ayuda Dainiela. Lo agredzco mucho! De hecho, Espero que le yo podria dar dos estrellas! - t8805jg, Dec 17, 2014

I was wondering, if 'Debes haber hablado a' doesn't translate as 'you must've talked to', then what would? Would 'Habrás hablado a' work? - Suzanne_Romijnders, Dec 18, 2014

The problem is with English. "must" and "should" only have one word in Spanish, "deber" . It's like "de" that's "of" and "from" in English. The reverse is "Ser y estar" in Spnaish, and "to be---am is are" in English. - Daniela2041, Dec 18, 2014

I'm speaking of the "you must have ----" or "you should have ------" construction. - Daniela2041, Dec 18, 2014

In the "future probablity" sense There is another construction. Alguien toca a la puerta. Una persona dice. "Quién será". Who can it be? The answer. "Será José" It must be José. - Daniela2041, Dec 18, 2014

Answer 2

I think the most common way to express 'would' is the condicional, making 'should' 'DEBERÍA'. 'Have', then, depends on the context, to add 'have', we use:

He should have 3 children. = Debería TENER 3 hijos.

VS

He should have come to the party yesterday night. = Debería HABER venido a la fiesta anoche.

The imperfecto de subjuntivo (debiera) can be used as an alternative of the condicional. It was presented to me as having the exact same connotation, but I've so far encountered it mostly in somewhat more formal texts, especially written, though I do think it appears sometimes in day-to-day use, I think to come off as a bit more sophisticated when asking for a favor or so: "Quisiera hablar con su jefe."

not necessarily: debiera/ debiese haber tenido ocho hijos ( he ought to have had eight children) . It depends. - annierats, Dec 16, 2014

Gracias Suzanne. Su repuesta y la que de Daniela me ayuda a entender esta problema - t8805jg, Dec 17, 2014

Annierats, nono you misunderstood my intention there, you're right, that's another option, but that was not the point I was making there. As you see, if you change it, the meaning changes as well, but I was just illustrating the use of 'tener' for 'have'. - Suzanne_Romijnders, Dec 18, 2014

de nada t8805jg :) - Suzanne_Romijnders, Dec 18, 2014

Answer 3

It is the imperfect subjunctive and either that or the conditional could be used, it depends on the rest of the sentence.

Answer 4

debiera should have

deberia - would have

Answer 5

Suzanne:

You are half right...

Debiera/debería = should

Debería = would have