Obligation in the conditional
Reminder: to express an obligation in the present, we use the following structures: tener + que + infinitive, deber + infinitive, and the impersonal hay + que + infinitive.
Tiene que firmar debajo de su nombre.
You have to sign under your name.
Hay que regar las plantas.
The plants need to be watered.
Obligations in the conditional are less strong and we can use:
- Tener (in the conditional) + que + infinitive
Tendríamos que invitar a Carmen.
We should invite Carmen, We would have to invite Carmen
- Deber (in the conditional) + infinitive
Deberías comer más verduras.
You should eat more vegetables, You ought to eat more vegetables.
- Habría + que + infinitive
Habría que pintar el comedor.
The dining room should be painted, The dining room would need to be painted.
- Sería + necesario/a + infinitive
Para ir al aeropuerto sería necesario salir de casa antes de las 8h
To get to the airport it would be necessary to leave home before 8 am
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