Any nuances?

Graeme R.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Any nuances?

Hi Inma

Am I right to assume that these essentially translate into English as the same thing? Otherwise, could you explain any other differences in meaning that might exist? 

1) Su avión ha debido retrasarse

2) Su avión debe haberse retrasado

AND that adding 'de' also makes no difference to the meaning (other than maybe 'strengthening' the assumption as we learned about here: Spanish modal verb Deber versus Deber de (obligation and assumption))? 


Saludos 

Asked 1 year ago
InmaKwiziq team member

Hola Graeme

Yes, both structures convey the same, it's always expressing an assumption of what "must have happened". The use of "de" is optional as you can use it or drop it when we're talking about assumptions. 

The only other possible interpretation from "el avíon ha debido retresarse" (not debe haberse retrasado) could be the more literal "the plane has had to be delayed", but, for this I'm pretty sure most people would use "tener que" instead:  "ha tenido que retrasarse".

Saludos 

Inma

Any nuances?

Hi Inma

Am I right to assume that these essentially translate into English as the same thing? Otherwise, could you explain any other differences in meaning that might exist? 

1) Su avión ha debido retrasarse

2) Su avión debe haberse retrasado

AND that adding 'de' also makes no difference to the meaning (other than maybe 'strengthening' the assumption as we learned about here: Spanish modal verb Deber versus Deber de (obligation and assumption))? 


Saludos 

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your Spanish level for FREE

Test your Spanish to the CEFR standard

Find your Spanish level
Let me take a look at that...