El contrato debe ser justo para todos.

The contract must be fair for everyone.

Breakdown of El contrato debe ser justo para todos.

• ser: to be
• para: for
• todos: everyone
• deber: must
• el contrato: the contract
• justo: fair

Questions & Answers about El contrato debe ser justo para todos.

Why is ser used here instead of estar when describing that the contract must be fair?

In Spanish, ser is used for more permanent or inherent characteristics. Describing a contract as fair is highlighting its essential quality, so ser is appropriate. Using estar would suggest a temporary condition or state, which doesn’t fit well for something that should be inherently fair.

What does debe express in debe ser?

Debe conveys an obligation or necessity in Spanish. It’s similar to saying “must” in English. So debe ser translates to the idea that the contract must or has to be fair, indicating a strong sense of requirement.

Why do we say para todos instead of por todos in this context?

Para often expresses the idea of a recipient or beneficiary, indicating who something is aimed at. Here, it specifies that fairness is intended for everyone involved. Por can suggest cause, substitution, or movement (among other uses), but it doesn’t carry the same sense of benefit or direction as para in this sentence.

What does justo mean exactly, and can it have other nuances in Spanish?

Justo primarily means fair, just, or equitable. It can also mean exact or precise in different contexts (for example, llegó justo a tiempo = “he arrived exactly on time”), but here it clearly refers to the idea of fairness and equity.

Can I replace debe ser with tiene que ser?

Yes. Tiene que ser also expresses the idea of necessity or obligation. However, debe ser is slightly more formal and direct in tone. Both forms are commonly understood and valid; they just have a subtle difference in formality and emphasis.