Spanish grammar
Deber (must: obligation) vs deber de (must be: a guess)
Answer passport-control questions, and tell obligation (deber) from a guess (deber de).
From the scene Motivo del viaje (Purpose of the trip)
In short
Deber + infinitive is an obligation. Deber de + infinitive is a guess: debe de haber un problema.
Your turn
Which one goes with you must show the return ticket (obligation)?
Options: solo debía enseñar el pasaporte · debe mostrar el tiquete de regreso · debe de haber un problema
Show answer
you must show the return ticket (obligation) → debe mostrar el tiquete de regreso
How it works
Deber + infinitive is an obligation: debe mostrar el tiquete = you must show the ticket.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Sí. Le dije: "El (blank) es un cumpleaños: noventa años".
Options: sello · alojamiento · motivo
Show answer
Sí. Le dije: "El motivo es un cumpleaños: noventa años".
Yes. I told him: "The purpose is a birthday: a ninetieth."
Good to know
Deber de + infinitive is a guess about what is probably true: debe de haber un problema = there must be a problem.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
¿Y? Yo debo (blank) parecer de sesenta.
Clue: a guess
Options: a · de · que
Show answer
¿Y? Yo debo de parecer de sesenta.
So? I must look sixty.
Good to know
In speech many people use deber for both, but the careful rule keeps de for guesses.
Good to know
At the desk they ask for el motivo del viaje, la estancia (how long) and el alojamiento (where you stay), then stamp el sello.
there must be a problem (guess) debe de haber un problema
Javi
Doña Elena lleva una hora en control de pasaportes. Debe de haber un problema.
Doña Elena has been an hour at passport control. There must be a problem.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Doña Elena lleva una hora en control de pasaportes. (blank).
Options: Solo debía enseñar el pasaporte · Debe de haber un problema · Debe mostrar el tiquete de regreso
Show answer
Javi
Doña Elena lleva una hora en control de pasaportes. Debe de haber un problema.
Doña Elena has been an hour at passport control. There must be a problem.
you must show the return ticket (obligation) debe mostrar el tiquete de regreso
Elena
Me dijo: "Señora, debe mostrar el tiquete de regreso". Y yo no lo encontraba.
He said: "Madam, you must show your return ticket." And I couldn't find it.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Me dijo: "Señora, (blank)". Y yo no lo encontraba.
Options: solo debía enseñar el pasaporte · debe mostrar el tiquete de regreso · debe de haber un problema
Show answer
Elena
Me dijo: "Señora, debe mostrar el tiquete de regreso". Y yo no lo encontraba.
He said: "Madam, you must show your return ticket." And I couldn't find it.
you only had to show your passport solo debía enseñar el pasaporte
the purpose of the trip / the stay / accommodation el motivo del viaje / la estancia / el alojamiento
Your turn
What goes with el motivo del viaje / la estancia / el alojamiento?
Options: there must be a problem (guess) · you must show the return ticket (obligation) · the purpose of the trip / the stay / accommodation
Show answer
el motivo del viaje / la estancia / el alojamiento → the purpose of the trip / the stay / accommodation
he stamped it me puso el sello
Elena
Estaba. Y al final me puso el sello ...y me dio su teléfono.
It was. And in the end he stamped it ...and gave me his number.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Estaba. Y al final (blank) ...y me dio su teléfono.
Options: me puso el sello · debe de haber un problema · debe mostrar el tiquete de regreso
Show answer
Elena
Estaba. Y al final me puso el sello ...y me dio su teléfono.
It was. And in the end he stamped it ...and gave me his number.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| there must be a problem (guess) | debe de haber un problema |
|---|---|
| you must show the return ticket (obligation) | debe mostrar el tiquete de regreso |
| you only had to show your passport | solo debía enseñar el pasaporte |
| the purpose of the trip / the stay / accommodation | el motivo del viaje / la estancia / el alojamiento |
| he stamped it | me puso el sello |
More lines from the story
- ElenaSí. Le dije: "El motivo es un cumpleaños: noventa años".Yes. I told him: "The purpose is a birthday: a ninetieth."
- Elena¿Y? Yo debo de parecer de sesenta.So? I must look sixty.
- ElenaEstancia: dos semanas. Alojamiento: la dirección de doña Gloria.Stay: two weeks. Accommodation: Doña Gloria's address.