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Deber Preterite Practice

Deber (must, should, to owe) in the preterite: 14 free exercises with an explanation after every answer, plus the full conjugation table.

•14 exercises•Regular -er•A1 – A2 level
IWhat to watch for

Deber is regular in the preterite, with the same endings as comer: debí, debiste, debió, debimos, debisteis, debieron. The preterite of a modal verb has a special flavour: debí llamarte usually means I should have called you — a regret about one moment in the past.

It also states an obligation that was carried out (debieron cancelar el concierto, they had to cancel it), and with de it guesses about a finished event: debió de perderse, it must have got lost.

IIConjugation
deberPreterite
yo
debí
tú
debiste
él / ella / usted
debió
nosotros
debimos
vosotros
debisteis
ellos / ustedes
debieron
Fully regular in every tense, conjugated like comer; as a modal verb it has no everyday commands, so that tense is left out.

Download the deber conjugation worksheet (PDF) — free, with answer key

42 exercises on deber across 7 tenses on one printable worksheet: each tense opens with its conjugation table, and the answer key with short explanations is at the end. Fits A4 and US Letter. Free for classroom use — no sign-up.

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IIIPractice exercises

Practice.

Answer first, then read the explanation. Don't skip it — that's the whole point.

Exercise 01 of 14Tag: Past regret
Fill in the blank

Lo siento, _____ llamarte antes; perdona por no avisar. (deber)

I'm sorry, I should have called you earlier; forgive me for not letting you know.

Exercise 02 of 14Tag: Past regret
Fill in the blank

Ayer tú _____ decirme la verdad desde el principio. (deber)

Yesterday you should have told me the truth from the start.

Exercise 03 of 14Tag: Conjecture about the past
Fill in the blank

El paquete no llegó; _____ de perderse en correos. (deber)

The parcel never arrived; it must have got lost in the post.

Exercise 04 of 14Tag: Past regret
Fill in the blank

Nosotros _____ salir hace una hora; ahora hay un atasco enorme. (deber)

We should have left an hour ago; now there's a huge traffic jam.

Exercise 05 of 14Tag: Obligation
Fill in the blank

Ayer los organizadores _____ cancelar el concierto por la lluvia. (deber)

Yesterday the organisers had to cancel the concert because of the rain.

Exercise 06 of 14Tag: Yo form
Fill in the blank

Aquel día _____ elegir entre mi carrera y mi familia. (deber)

That day I had to choose between my career and my family.

Exercise 07 of 14Tag: Conjecture about the past
Fill in the blank

Estás empapado; _____ de pillar toda la tormenta. (deber)

You're soaked; you must have been caught in the whole storm.

Exercise 08 of 14Tag: Él/ella form
Fill in the blank

Anoche el piloto _____ aterrizar en otro aeropuerto por la niebla. (deber)

Last night the pilot had to land at another airport because of the fog.

Exercise 09 of 14Tag: Nosotros form
Fill in the blank

La semana pasada mi mujer y yo _____ pagar una multa por aparcar mal. (deber)

Last week my wife and I had to pay a fine for bad parking.

Exercise 10 of 14Tag: Conjecture about the past
Fill in the blank

Los ladrones _____ de entrar por la ventana del baño. (deber)

The burglars must have got in through the bathroom window.

Exercise 11 of 14Tag: Vosotros form
Fill in the blank

Vosotros _____ avisarnos de que llegabais tarde. (deber)

You (all) should have told us you were going to be late.

Exercise 12 of 14Tag: Tense contrast
Fill in the blank

Normalmente debo madrugar, pero ayer no _____ hacerlo. (deber)

I usually have to get up early, but yesterday I didn't have to.

Exercise 13 of 14Tag: Él/ella form
Fill in the blank

Mi abuela _____ dejar la escuela a los doce años para trabajar. (deber)

My grandmother had to leave school at twelve to work.

Exercise 14 of 14Tag: Ellos form
Fill in the blank

Mis padres _____ vender la casa cuando cerró la fábrica. (deber)

My parents had to sell the house when the factory closed.

Every answer is explained

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