subjunctive. Of these, the present and the conditional are the tenses most frequently
used.
Debo hacerlo.
I must do it.
Deberás repararlo.
You will have to repair it.
Debí decírselo.
I ought to have told him.
Deberíamos/debíamos/debiéramos invitarlos.
We should invite them.
Deberías/debías/debieras traerlo.
You should bring it.
Deberías/debías/debieras haberlo traído.
You should have brought it.
Debería/debía/debiera habérselo contado.
I should have told him/her.21.2 (p. 100)
46.1.3 Poder+ infinitive
In the context of obligation and duty, poder is used in the conditional or imperfect
(e.g. podría or podía) with the meaning of ‘might’. It expresses mild obligation.
Podrías/podías llamarla.
You might call her.
Podríamos/podíamos explicárselo.
We might explain it to him/her.
Podríais/podíais/pudisteis habérselo explicado.
You might have explained it to him/her.
21.1 (p. 99)46.1.4 Haber de+ infinitive
Mild obligation or duty is sometimes expressed through haber de, ‘to have to’,
normally found in literary registers.
He de salir al amanecer.
I have to leave at dawn.
Hemos de separarnos.
We’ll have to separate.
Han de estar aquí a las ocho.
You/they will have to be here at eight.
Has de decírmelo todo.
You’ll have to tell me everything.
21.6 (p. 102)Expressing obligation and duty with regard to oneself and others 46.1