Using "hubiera" for "should"

[tacuba]

Hi everyone:

I keep hearing (here in Mexico) "hubiera" used in the sense of "should" in English. At least that's how it sounds in context.

Hubiera estudiado más
I should have studied more

Am I hearing this correctly? Or am I going down the wrong track?

Thanks

[Rusty]

That's correct usage and your interpretation is right. The subjunctive mood is being employed. It's an unspoken wish, and wishes are cast in the subjunctive.

[Jessica]

oh so in other places should is debo or something??

[Rusty]

No, that usage is correct for all of the Spanish-speaking world.

[Jessica]

oh ok so is huberia another way to say should and it's more common in Mexico?

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by tacuba

Hi everyone:

I keep hearing (here in Mexico) "hubiera" used in the sense of "should" in English. At least that's how it sounds in context.

Hubiera estudiado más
I should have studied more

Am I hearing this correctly? Or am I going down the wrong track?

Thanks

That's right. "Hubiera" can basically mean three things-- "should have", "would have", or "had".

Hubiera traído mi cámara para sacar fotos.
I should have brought my camera to take pictures.

Si hubiera sabido que iba a hacer frío, me hubiera traído mi chamarra.
If I had known that it was going to be cold, I would have brought my jacket.

The usage of "hubiera" as "would have" is considered by some to be non-standard, but in many dialects of Spanish it is **extremely** common even with well-educated speakers speaking in the higher registers (formal settings, etc). "Standard" usage would have you use "habría" in this case.

Originally Posted by jchen

oh so in other places should is debo or something??

Not exactly. "debo" means "I should", not "I should have".

[tacuba]

Originally Posted by Rusty

That's correct usage and your interpretation is right. The subjunctive mood is being employed. It's an unspoken wish, and wishes are cast in the subjunctive.

Thanks Rusty and David:

So a literal translation could be something like: "That I had studied more." or "That I would have studied more".

[Jessica]

oh ok I could see the difference

[Rusty]

The usage above is correct everywhere and is used everywhere. It doesn't replace the word(s) you already know for 'should'. What you know is also used everywhere. The difference is how and when each is used. You'll learn about this usage when you are studying the subjunctive mood.