What is the difference between devoir in Le Conditionnel Passé and L'imparfait?
For example: Where do these two questions differ?
1. Tu devais fermer la porte à clé.
2. Tu aurais dû fermer la porte à clé.
And please don't simply translate them into English. Paraphrase would be better for me to understand. S'il vous plaît !
Bonjour Dracus,
1. Tu devais fermer la porte à clé.
- it means "you were supposed to do it"
- it is a slight reproach / it was an expectation you did not fulfill.
2. Tu aurais dû fermer la porte à clé.
- it means "you should have done it"
- It's a comment made in hindsight - where there's already been consequences
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !
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