you must be

debes de ser

debes de estar

you must be(

muhst

)

A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).

phrase

1. (I suppose you are; used to indicate a permanent quality; used to address one person)

a. debes de ser

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).

(informal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

You must be very self-confident to speak in front of that crowd.Debes de ser muy valiente para hablar delante de ese público.

b. tienes que ser

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).

(informal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

You must be strong to cope with a situation like that.Tienes que ser fuerte para hacer frente a una situación así.

c. debes ser

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).

(informal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

Oh, you must be Anthony's girlfriend! Nice to meet you!Ah, debes ser la novia de Anthony. ¡Mucho gusto!

d. debe de ser

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).

(formal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

You must be very brave to take on that role.Debe de ser muy valiente para aceptar ese papel.

e. tiene que ser

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).

(formal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

You must be very dedicated to your job to work such long hours.Tiene que ser muy dedicado a su trabajo para trabajar tantas horas.

f. debe ser

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).

(formal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

You must be Peter's mother; you look exactly like him!Debe ser la madre de Peter. ¡Es idéntica a él!

2. (I suppose you are; used to indicate a temporary state; used to address one person)

a. debes de estar

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).

(informal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

You must be exhausted after such a long journey.Debes de estar agotada después de un viaje tan largo.

b. tienes que estar

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).

(informal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

You must be happy to be back home.Tienes que estar feliz de estar de vuelta en casa.

c. debes estar

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).

(informal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

You must be exhausted after that training session.Debes estar agotado después de ese entrenamiento.

d. debe de estar

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).

(formal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

You must be delighted with the news.Debe de estar encantada con la noticia.

e. tiene que estar

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).

(formal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

You must be relieved with the verdict.Tiene que estar aliviado con el veredicto.

f. debe estar

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).

(formal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

After so many days alone in the middle of the jungle, you must be willing to speak to a human being.Después de tantos días sola en medio de la selva, debe estar deseando hablar con un ser humano.

3. (you need to be; used to indicate a permanent quality; used to address one person)

a. debes ser

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).

(informal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

You must be tall to be a catwalk model.Debes ser alta para ser modelo de pasarela.

b. tienes que ser

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).

(informal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

To learn how to play an instrument, you must be disciplined.Para aprender a tocar un instrumento, tienes que ser disciplinado.

c. debe ser

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).

(formal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

You must be a US citizen to apply for this post.Debe ser ciudadano estadounidense para solicitar este puesto.

d. tiene que ser

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).

(formal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

You must be a qualified nurse to join the team.Tiene que ser enfermero cualificado para unirse al equipo.

4. (you need to be; used to indicate a temporary state; used to address one person)

a. debes estar

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).

(informal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

You must be prepared to put in the effort if you want to get good grades.Debes estar dispuesto a esforzarte si quieres conseguir buenas notas.

b. tienes que estar

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).

(informal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

You must be here at 6 o'clock.Tienes que estar aquí para las 6.

c. debe estar

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).

(formal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

You must be ready to travel at short notice.Debe estar preparada para viajar a corto plazo.

d. tiene que estar

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).

(formal)

A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).

(singular)

You'll have a flexible schedule, so you must be available to work on weekends.Su horario será flexible, de modo que tiene que estar disponible para trabajar los fines de semana.

5. (I suppose you are; used to indicate a permanent quality; used to address multiple people)

a. deben de ser

A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).

(plural)

You must be very special to receive such recognition from your whole community.Deben de ser muy especiales para recibir tal reconocimiento de la comunidad entera.

b. tienen que ser

A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).

(plural)

You must be pretty selfless to help others like that.Tienen que ser bastante desinteresados para ayudar a otros así.

6. (I suppose you are; used to indicate a temporary state; used to address multiple people)

a. deben de estar

A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).

(plural)

You must be very proud to see your daughter graduate from Yale.Deben de estar muy orgullosos de ver a su hija licenciarse de Yale.

b. tienen que estar

A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).

(plural)

You must be exhausted after such an emotional day.Tienen que estar agotados después de un día tan emotivo.

7. (you need to be; used to indicate a permanent quality; used to address multiple people)

a. deben ser

A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).

(plural)

You must be EU nationals to qualify for the study grant.Deben ser nacionales de la UE para tener derecho a la beca.

b. tienen que ser

A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).

(plural)

You must be qualified healthcare workers to join the voluntary program.Tienen que ser sanitarios calificados para unirse a nuestro programa de voluntariado.

8. (you need to be; used to indicate a temporary state; used to address multiple people)

a. deben estar

A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).

(plural)

You must be mad if you think people will believe you.Deben estar locos si creen que les creerán.

b. tienen que estar

A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).

(plural)

We know you're both clever, but you must be prepared to put in a lot of effort to get the grades you need for college.Sabemos que los dos son inteligentes, pero tienen que estar dispuestos a hacer mucho esfuerzo para conseguir las notas que necesitan para ir a la universidad.

Examples