The Spanish constructions haber + de, tener + que, hay + que, and deber + infinitive are all used to express that something demands attention or action: an obligation, requirement, or necessity. Let's review some examples to learn the subtle differences between them and how to properly use them.
The construction haber + de + infinitive is used to express a mild sense of obligation or necessity (in some contexts it could be just a possibility). Its use is, therefore, preferred when you want to give an instruction in a very polite way, making it sound more like a suggestion than an order. For example, in one of our new videos Raquel uses haber + de + infinitive repeatedly to share some entrepreneurial tips:
En primer lugar, hemos de definir nuestra estrategia.
In the first place, we have to define our strategy.
Caption 5, Raquel y Marisa - Español Para Negocios - Introducción
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Básicamente, en esta parte, hemos de definir
Basically, in this part, we have to define
qué vamos a publicar en cada red social.
what we are going to publish on each social network.
Captions 8-9, Raquel y Marisa - Español Para Negocios - Introducción
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Additionally, by using the first person plural, hemos, Raquel gives a subtle aura of consensus to her advice, which stresses the idea that even when she is using an imperative expression, she is not giving an order but rather sharing advice. If she were to use, for example, the second person, the expression would have a bit more pressing or demanding tone:
Lo primero que has de hacer al reservar en un restaurante es...
The first thing that you have to do upon reserving at a restaurant is...
Caption 3, Raquel - Reserva de Restaurante
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Here's another example with a twist, using negation:
Y no ha de faltarle nunca
And you should never lack
un sanconcho de ñato pa' rematar.
a snub-nosed fish stew to add the finishing touch.
Caption 14, Mary Grueso Romero - Platonera en la plaza del mercado
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You could also add the word uno (one), to talk impersonally. For example:
Uno ha de hacer aquello que desea.
One must do whatever one wants.
Incidentally, there is one Spanish imperative construction that only uses the impersonal form to express needs, obligations, or requirements in a more generalized way: hay + que infinitive.
¡Eres una víbora a la que hay que quitarle la ponzoña!
You're a snake from which it's necessary to remove the venom!
Caption 27, El Ausente - Acto 3
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Or for everyday tasks at hand:
Pues hay que diseñar unos 'flyers'.
So, we have to design some flyers.
Caption 58, Arturo Vega - Entrevista
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On the other hand, to convey a higher grade or urgency, necessity, or imperativeness, the expressions tener + que + infinitive and deber + infinitive* come in handy. The difference between deber and tener is subtle: the use of deber confers a sense of duty or moral imperativeness to the expression, while tener is better suited to talk about more practical matters.
You can also use these constructions in an impersonal way, adding the word uno (one):
Ya, cuando a uno le toca ser papá, pues,
Then, when it's time for one to be a dad, well,
uno tiene que reflexionar sobre eso.
one has to reflect on that.
Caption 8, La Sub30 - Familias
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[If you want to use the verb deber you would say: uno debe reflexionar (one must reflect)]
Or you can use the first person for more particular and pressing needs:
Ahora tenemos que hablar de precio.
Now we have to talk about price.
Caption 74, 75 minutos - Gangas para ricos
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[If you were to use the verb deber: debemos hablar de precio (we must talk about price)]
*By the way, the use of deber + de + infinitive in imperative statements (such as debes de comer, meaning "you must eat") is common but grammatically incorrect. The use of deber + de + infinitive is correct when used to express probability.
The expression haber de followed by an infinitive verb usually means "to have to," "to be necessary," or "to be supposed to." This phrase is similar to tener que or haber que, but it expresses a much weaker and often vague sense of obligation. Haber de can and is used in normal speech, but is more likely found in literature and song lyrics.
In one of her videos, Raquel uses haber de to explain how to open a bank account:
Siempre hemos de asistir personalmente a la entidad bancaria
We should always go personally to the banking entity
para poder realizar la firma de todos los documentos originales.
to be able to do the signing of all the original documents.
Captions 13-14, Raquel - Abrir una cuenta bancaria
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You can also find the expression in Muñeca Brava's musical theme, sung by Natalia Oreiro:
Que la suerte sea suerte y no algo que no he de alcanzar
So that luck becomes luck and not something that I can't reach
Caption 4, Muñeca Brava - 1 Piloto
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Also, in our Mexican movie, El Ausente we hear Valente Rojas daringly say:
En un minuto nací y en menos he de morir.
In one minute I was born and in less [than that] I shall die.
Captions 8-9, El Ausente - Acto 4
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Since haber de expresses a milder sense of obligation or necessity, it's perfect to make a polite recommendation; it's less imposing than tener que or haber que:
Lo primero que has de hacer al reservar en un restaurante es:
The first thing that you have to do upon reserving at a restaurant is:
Saludar.
To greet [the people there].
Captions 3-4, Raquel - Reserva de Restaurante
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In the previous example, Raquel could have also said: Lo primero que tienes de hacer or Lo primero que hay que hacer (Remember that haber que is only used with the impersonal form of the verb haber: hay (present) or hubo (past).) Haber de is simply more polite, even poetic.
Finally, you should know that haber de is sometimes used to express possibility, for example to make a supposition:
Tal vez ha de haber sido...
Maybe it must have been...
un intento de mi parte por...
an attempt on my part to...
conceptualizar... a... la sociedad norteamericana, ¿verdad?
conceptualize... the... American society, right?
Captions 24-26, Arturo Vega - Entrevista
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¡Deben de haber aprendido mucho con esta lección! Thanks for reading!