Breakdown of Debes tener buenos modales.
tener
to have
bueno
good
deber
must / should
los modales
the manners (always plural)
Questions & Answers about Debes tener buenos modales.
Why doesn't debes have a que after it, like tienes que?
Does debes mean "you must" or "you should" in this sentence?
It can mean both! Deber is used for both strong obligations (you must) and giving advice (you should). Because having good manners is usually a piece of advice or a strong social expectation rather than a strict law, "you should" is the most natural translation here.
Why does the adjective buenos come before the noun modales instead of after?
Usually, Spanish adjectives go after the noun to describe it. However, common adjectives of quality, especially bueno (good) and malo (bad), are often placed before the noun to sound more natural. Buenos modales (good manners) is a very common fixed phrase where the adjective almost always comes first.
Does modales mean "models"?
No, that's a false friend! Modales means "manners" (as in polite behavior). If you wanted to talk about a fashion model or a role model, you would use the word modelo.
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