Questions & Answers about Trebalo bi da naručimo ketering za proslavu.
What does trebalo bi mean here?
Trebalo bi means should, ought to, or it would be a good idea to. It expresses a recommendation, not a strong obligation. So it sounds softer than moramo, which means we must / we have to.
Why is it trebalo and not trebali bismo?
In Serbian, trebati is very often used impersonally in this kind of sentence, so trebalo bi da... is extremely common and natural. Literally, it is something like it would be necessary to..., but in normal English you usually translate it as we should....
You may also hear Trebali bismo da naručimo ketering za proslavu, which is also natural. That version agrees directly with we, while trebalo bi keeps the expression more impersonal.
What is the role of bi in trebalo bi?
Bi is the conditional auxiliary. It helps create a softer, less direct meaning.
Compare:
- Treba da naručimo... = We need to / should order...
- Trebalo bi da naručimo... = We should / it would be good to order...
So bi makes the statement sound more like a suggestion than a firm necessity.
Why is there instead of an infinitive?