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Instead of 'Se Debe' and 'No Debe'

 

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  #1  
Old March 23, 2013, 07:10 AM
gianmaranon gianmaranon is offline
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Instead of 'Se Debe' and 'No Debe'

Hey guys,
I'm currently learning Spanish, And I just want to know what I can say instead of Se debe and No debe. I would like alternatives because I think the word Se debe and no debe are quite boring if you know what I mean
For example - No debe tomar drogas y beber alcohol.
- No se debe fumar que puede matarte
- Se debe usar menos el coche por el contrario se debe porque tambien ayuda al planeta tiera.

and etc.
All I would like are some alternatives.
Thank you very much!
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  #2  
Old March 23, 2013, 08:01 AM
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Rusty Rusty is offline
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As you most likely know, deber is being used as an auxiliary verb.
It can be translated as 'must'.

debe
no debe


se debe
no se debe


The first set above is the third-person conjugation that is used when addressing somebody. The last set is the third-person conjugation that would be used when not addressing anyone in particular.

If you're expressing 'must + infinitive', there is no substitute for 'deber + infinitivo'.

tener que + infinitivo = "to have to + infinitive"
hay que + infinitivo = "it's necessary to + infinitive"

I have to go. = Tengo que ir.
You have to study. = Tienes que estudiar.

It's necessary to study to get good grades. = Hay que estudiar para sacar buenas notas.

Last edited by Rusty; March 23, 2013 at 08:31 AM.
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Old March 23, 2013, 08:30 AM
gianmaranon gianmaranon is offline
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Wow thanks for the explanation!
Are those the only sentence I can use or are there more? I can't seem to think what else I can say.
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Old March 23, 2013, 08:32 AM
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What sentences are you referring to?
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Old March 23, 2013, 08:45 AM
gianmaranon gianmaranon is offline
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More alternatives of saying Se debe, no debe etc. You gave me a few, thanks for that. I can't think of English words to translate similar to se debe/ no debe.
Sorry if I don't make sense.
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Old March 23, 2013, 08:47 AM
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The alternatives I gave don't replace 'se debe' and 'no se debe'. They don't mean the same thing.
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Old March 23, 2013, 08:55 AM
gianmaranon gianmaranon is offline
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Ok that made sense. So what can I replace 'Se debe' and 'no se debe' with?
So basically this is what your trying to say;
-hay que se debe....- would that make sense?
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Old March 23, 2013, 09:00 AM
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I said that there is no substitute for 'deber + infinitivo' if you mean 'must + infinitive'.

'Hay que se debe' makes no sense.
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Old March 23, 2013, 09:11 AM
gianmaranon gianmaranon is offline
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do you mind giving me an example for this:
No debe tomar drogas y beber alcohol.
What can I say instead of No debe?

Last edited by gianmaranon; March 23, 2013 at 09:15 AM.
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Old March 23, 2013, 09:35 AM
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I gave three examples, but they aren't substitutes for 'deber'.

"I must go" and "I should go" mean the same thing. These are both expressed with 'deber + infinitivo' constructions.
"I have to go" is used more often to express an obligation, so it isn't considered to be synonymous with 'I must go' or 'I should go'. To express an obligation, the 'tener que + infinitivo' construction is used.

The 'hay que + infinitivo' construction is used when no one in particular is the subject.
No hay que fumar para matarse. = You don't (One doesn't) have to smoke to kill yourself (oneself). (Infers that there are other ways.)

Debemos ir antes de que llueva. = We should go before it rains. (statement - conversation ender - no obligation to leave)
Tenemos que ir antes de que llueva. = We have to go before it rains. (or we'll get in trouble)
Hay que ir antes de que llueva. = It's necessary to go before it rains. (the road is impassible after it begins to rain)


If you're not addressing anyone in particular, use 'se debe' and the negated form 'no se debe'. If you're addressing a particular person, use 'debe' and the negated form 'no debe'.

No debe tomar drogas ni alcohol. = You shouldn't take drugs or drink alcohol. ('tomar' means both 'take' and 'drink', so there's no reason to use to different verbs)
No se debe tomar drogas ni alcohol. = One shouldn't take drugs or drink alcohol.

You can use a direct command instead, but I'm not sure if that's what you're after.
No tome drogas ni alcohol. = Don't take drugs or drink alcohol.

You can say
No tiene que tomar drogas ni alcohol. = You don't have to take drugs or drink alcohol.
No hay que tomar drogas ni alcohol. = It's not necessary to take drugs or drink alcohol.

But if you want to say "shouldn't take ...", use "no (se) debe tomar ...".

Last edited by Rusty; March 23, 2013 at 10:07 AM. Reason: saw edited post and replied to it
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