Tener Que, Hay Que, Poder and Deber Plus Infinitive
Tener que, hay que, poder and deber plus an infinitive are four Spanish structures for expressing obligation, possibility and advice: tener que names who must do something, hay que is impersonal, poder means to be able to, and deber expresses moral obligation.
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Method
- Use tener que + infinitive when a specific person has an obligation: conjugate tener normally for that person (tengo, tienes, tiene, tenemos, tenéis, tienen) and follow it directly with the infinitive: Tengo que hacer los deberes.
- Use hay que + infinitive for a general, impersonal obligation with no named subject, equivalent to 'one must' or 'it is necessary to': hay never changes for person, only for tense (hay que estudiar now, hubo que estudiar in the preterite, había que estudiar as a general past rule).
- Use poder + infinitive for ability or permission ('can/to be able to'), remembering the o-to-ue stem change in the present tense for every person except nosotros/vosotros: puedo, puedes, puede, podemos, podéis, pueden.
- Use deber + infinitive for moral obligation or advice ('should/ought to'), which is weaker than tener que: Debes estudiar más (You should study more) suggests advice, while Tienes que estudiar (You have to study) suggests a firm requirement.
- Keep the second verb in the infinitive in all four structures - never conjugate it: tengo que hacer (not tengo que hago), puedo ir (not puedo voy).
- For the negative, put no before the conjugated verb, not before the infinitive: No tengo que trabajar hoy; No hay que preocuparse; No puedo salir; No debes mentir.
- Recognise the softer conditional form debería (should, more polite or tentative than the present deber), used for gentle advice: Deberías dormir más (You should sleep more).
Worked example
Translate: 'You have to finish your homework, but you can watch television afterwards if you want. One should always tell the truth.'
- 'You have to finish' is a personal obligation naming tú, so use tener que + infinitive, conjugating tener for tú: Tienes que terminar tus deberes.
- 'You can watch' is ability/permission for tú, so use poder + infinitive, applying the o-to-ue stem change: puedes ver la televisión.
- Add 'afterwards if you want': después si quieres, and join the two clauses with pero.
- 'One should always tell the truth' is a general, impersonal rule with no named subject, so use hay que + infinitive with the adverb siempre: Siempre hay que decir la verdad.
- Assemble the full translation: Tienes que terminar tus deberes, pero puedes ver la televisión después si quieres. Siempre hay que decir la verdad.
Practice questions
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Q1Complete: ___ (hay que) llegar a tiempo a clase.Show answer
Answer: Hay que (Hay que llegar a tiempo a clase).
Q2Conjugate poder for 'nosotros'.Show answer
Answer: Podemos.
Q3Translate: 'I should eat more vegetables.'Show answer
Answer: Debo comer más verduras.
Q4Spot the error: 'Tengo que voy al dentista mañana.'Show answer
Answer: It should be 'Tengo que ir al dentista mañana' - the second verb must stay in the infinitive.
Q5Translate: 'You can't park here.'Show answer
Answer: No puedes aparcar aquí.
Q6Explain the difference in meaning between 'Debes estudiar' and 'Tienes que estudiar'.Show answer
Answer: Debes estudiar is gentler advice (you should study), while Tienes que estudiar is a firmer requirement (you have to study).
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE Spanish exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Translate this passage into English: Antes de salir, tienes que terminar todos los deberes. No puedo ayudarte esta noche porque tengo una reunión, pero deberías pedir ayuda a tu hermana. Hay que ser más organizado si quieres sacar buenas notas.
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Translate into Spanish: 'We have to arrive early tomorrow. You can't use your phone during the exam, and you should read the instructions carefully. One must always respect the teachers.'
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See real GCSE Spanish past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
Free printable worksheet
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