Memorize “Deber” conjugations in the Preterite (Past) Tense effortlessly. Our unique loop-based audio helps you absorb verb forms naturally—just like native speakers. Tap to play and start memorizing 10x faster now!

Pro Tip: Play the audio on a loop while reviewing the conjugation chart to naturally absorb the correct forms. Try it now!

Conjugation Chart of “Deber” (to owe/should) in the Preterite (Past) Tense

Why Use Loop-Based Learning

• 🧠 Activates natural language processing in the brain
• 🔄 Makes conjugations feel automatic
• 📝 Reduces mental effort compared to rote memorization
• 💡 Builds fluency through repetition

Unlike traditional methods that rely on memorizing rules and grammar drills, our approach mimics how native speakers naturally acquire language—by hearing patterns repeatedly in context. This activates your brain’s phonological loop, making verb forms feel familiar and automatic.

To learn more about the science behind this technique, read our detailed article: The Neuroscience of Language Learning: How Listening on a Loop Strengthens Your Fluency

Understanding the Preterite (Past) Tense of “Deber”

The preterite of deber is used to express when you owed something or should have done something at a specific point in the past. For example, when you want to say “I owed him money last month” – “Le debí dinero el mes pasado.”

This is a regular -er verb that follows standard preterite conjugation patterns. The meaning can vary between owing something and expressing an obligation that existed in the past.

How to Use Deber in the Preterite (Past) Tense

The Preterite of deber expresses past obligations or debts.

To owe: Used for financial obligations, for example Debí mucho dinero (I owed a lot of money), or Me debieron el pago (They owed me the payment).

Should have: Indicates past obligations, for example Debí estudiar más (I should have studied more).

Real Life Examples of Deber in the Preterite (Past) Tense

Debí estudiar más para el examen. (I should have studied more for the exam.)

Debiste llamar antes de venir. (You should have called before coming.)

No debieron salir tan tarde. (They shouldn’t have left so late.)

Debimos escuchar sus consejos. (We should have listened to their advice.)

Me debió mucho dinero por años. (He owed me a lot of money for years.)

Debiste decir la verdad desde el principio. (You should have told the truth from the beginning.)

Les debimos una explicación. (We owed them an explanation.)

Debió ser más cuidadoso con sus palabras. (He should have been more careful with his words.)

¿Por qué no debiste asistir a la reunión? (Why weren’t you supposed to attend the meeting?)

Debieron llegar hace una hora. (They should have arrived an hour ago.)

Debí hacer caso a mi intuición. (I should have followed my intuition.)

Le debió todo su éxito a su familia. (He owed all his success to his family.)

No debimos esperar tanto tiempo. (We shouldn’t have waited so long.)

Debiste ver su cara de sorpresa. (You should have seen their surprised face.)

Debieron informarnos con anticipación. (They should have informed us in advance.)

Conjugation Chart with English Translations

Conjugations of Deber (to owe/should) in the Preterite (Past) Tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Preterite tense is also known as the Simple Past, Past Simple, Definite Past, Absolute Past, or Past Tense Indicative in English, and as Pretérito Perfecto Simple, Pretérito Indefinido, Pretérito Simple, Pasado Simple, or Pretérito de Indicativo in Spanish.