ha de ser

it has to be

ha de ser(ah deh sehr)

phrase

1. (used to express obligation)

a. it has to be

¿La chaqueta no puede ser negra? - No, ha de ser azul. Es el uniforme de la escuela.

Can't the jacket be black? - No, it has to be blue. It's the school uniform.

b. has to be

El pan ha de ser integral, si no, mi esposa no lo come.

The bread has to be whole-wheat, otherwise my wife won't eat it.

c. it must be

La educación debe estar al alcance de todos, ha de ser gratuita.

Education should be available to all. It must be free.

d. must be

Para que el plato salga bien, la carne ha de ser de buena calidad.

For the dish to turn out well, the meat must be of good quality.

2. (used to express possibility)

a. it has to be

¿Qué es aquella luz que brilla en el cielo? - Ha de ser una estrella.

What's that light shining in the sky? - It has to be a star.

b. has to be

Esta orden ha de ser un error. No pueden pedirnos que hagamos eso.

This order has to be a mistake. They can't ask us to do that.

c. it must be

Digas lo que digas, ha de ser aburrido hacer lo mismo todos los días.

Whatever you say, it must be boring to do the same thing every day.

d. must be

Esa casa ha de ser cara, parece muy lujosa.

That house must be expensive. It looks very luxurious.