How to express obligation in Spanish?

Obligation is expressed in Spanish through the use of three main expressions: tener que ("have to"), hay que ("it is necessary to"), and deber ("must"). All these expressions are followed by an infinitive verb. Although these are the most common ways to express obligation, there are other expressions that can also be used, for example using expressions like "es necesario" ("it’s mandatory"), "hace falta" ("it’s needed"), or "me toca…" ("it’s my turn to"). Ready to find out what they are and how to use them like a native speaker? Read along!

This expression is used for personal obligation, that is, rules or tasks that we make for ourselves or others that are not established for everybody. It is commonly used in the present tense to express the things that we have to do.

• Hoy tengo que ir al banco.

  Today, I have to go to the bank.
• Marcos tiene que lavar el coche.

  Marcos has to wash the car.

Tener que + infinitive in the past tenses can mean different things depending on the tense you use. If it’s used in the preterite it expresses an obligation that was carried out, but if used in the imperfect we don’t know if the obligation was completed or not.

• Tuvieron que comprar más agua.

  They had to buy more water. (they bought it)
• Tenían que comprar más agua.

  They had (were supposed) to buy more water.

The negative no tener que ("don’t/doesn’t have to") can express both lack of obligation or activities that are optional:

• No tengo que levantarme temprano mañana.

  Tomorrow, I don’t have to wake up early.
• No tienes que pagar ahora.

  You don’t need to pay right now.

It is an impersonal expression, which means that it doesn’t have a specific subject and it’s not directed towards someone specific. Hay is an invariable form of the verb haber in the present tense, so it does not need to be conjugated. It can be used to express obligation or recommendation in a general sense and it’s milder than “tener que.”

• Obligation

  Hay que + infinitive is used to express something that needs to be done and it is equivalent to “need to” or “it’s necessary.”

  Hay que donar dinero para la caridad.

  It is necessary to donate money to charity.

• Recommendation

  This expression is also used as an indirect command or a recommendation.

  Hay que llegar temprano a clase.

  Let’s arrive early to class.

The verb deber + infinitive expresses obligation in both established rules, and rules we make for ourselves. In the first case it means “have/has to,” while in the second it means “must.”

• Established rules.

  These are rules that apply to everybody.

  Debes guardar silencio en la biblioteca.

  You have to be silent at the library.

• Rules we make for ourselves.

  These are personal rules we follow and that don’t necessarily apply for everybody.

  No debo comer demás.

  I must not eat more than necessary.

Some impersonal expressions, such as es obligatorio ("it’s mandatory") or es necesario ("it’s necessary"), are used to express obligation. These expressions are followed by an infinitive. For example:

• Es obligatorio + infinitive

  Es obligatorio lavarse las manos.

  It is mandatory to wash one’s hands.

• No se puede + infinitive

  No se puede hacer el check out después de las 2.

  It is not possible to check out after 2.

When one of these impersonal expressions is followed by que, then the subjunctive must be used in the subordinate clauseNo definition set for subordinate clauseLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.. It is important that both the verb in the indicative and the subjunctive are in the present tense.

• Es obligatorio que + subjunctive

  Es obligatorio que uses el uniforme.

  It is obligatory (for you) to wear the uniform.

• Es necesario que + subjunctive

  Es necesario que aprendas el reglamento.

  It is necessary that you learn the rules.

• Es importante que + subjunctive

  Es importante que vengan a la reunión.

  It is important that you attend the meeting.

• Es preciso que + subjunctive

  Es preciso que tomemos una decisión.

  It is necessary that we make a decision.

Hace falta ("it’s needed") is similar in meaning to hay que, but this expression implies that there is something lacking, in this case something that needs to be done. Furthermore, it can refer to collective obligation or to the obligation of a person or people in particular.

When addressing a collective obligation, you only need to add an infinitive after hace falta:

• Hace falta + infinitive

  Hace falta limpiar.

  It’s necessary that someone cleans.

When it refers to the obligation of a specific person or people, this phrase is used with an indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, nos, os, les).

• IOP + Hace falta + infinitive

  Nos hace falta limpiar.

  We need to clean.

  Les hace falta estudiar más.

  They need to study more.

When hace falta is followed by que ("that"), then it must be used with the subjunctive and it specifies whose obligation this is.

• Hace falta que + subjunctive

  Hace falta que (tú) limpies aquí.

  It’s necessary that you clean here.

• Tocar ("be your turn")

  Some expressions with this verb refer to obligation or responsibility. It can be used impersonally, which in English would be “(activity) time” as in “reading time.” In this case, the verb is conjugated in the third person singular followed by an infinitive.

  Hoy toca cocinar.

  Today is cooking time.

  If we want to specify whose turn it is, then we need to use an indirect object pronoun. In this case, the meaning changes to “to be someone’s turn.”

  Te toca cocinar.

  It’s your turn to cook.

  Tip

  This use of tocar follows the same structure of verbs like gustar ("it’s pleasing").

• The use of the infinitive to express an obligation is commonly found in ads to express a rule.

  Favor de permanecer sentado.

  Please, remain seated.

  Tip

  The infinitive is often preceded by the expression "favor de" ("please") to express politeness.

  → Find more information about how to use infinitives to express obligation and other uses of Spanish infinitives here.

• Commands can be used to express obligation.

  ¡Llega puntual!

  Arrive on time!

• The present tense is also used to express obligation, for example, when giving instructions:

  Te bajas en la siguiente estación.

  You get off at the next station.

• The future tense can express obligation in formal settings, for example in contracts:

  La compañía no divulgará información confidencial.

  The company will not disclose any private information.

• Nouns (without a verb) can be used to express obligation. This is common in ads.

  Uso obligatorio de equipo de protección.

  Wear protective gear.

  (lit: Obligatory use of protective gear)

Obligation in Spanish is expressed by using: tener que ("have to"), deber ("must"), hay que ("it's necessary") + infinitive, impersonal expressions, or hace falta ("it's necessary"). There are other expressions for obligation which include:

• toca ("it’s someone’s turn to do something"),

• infinitives,

• commands,

• the present or future and,

• nouns.

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