mal by som + Infinitive

Should: Mal by Som

Level 3

Mal by som (mala by som) with an infinitive means I should: Mal by si viac spať (You should sleep more), Nemali by sme meškať (We shouldn't be late).

How It Works

Forms. Put mať in the conditional and add an infinitive:

  • mal / mala by som ísť · mali by sme ísť
  • mal / mala by si ísť · mali by ste ísť
  • mal / mala / malo by ísť · mali by ísť

Uses.

  • advice: Mali by ste ísť k lekárovi. (You should see a doctor.)
  • a mild duty: Mala by som zavolať mame. (I should call Mum.)
  • an expectation: To by malo stačiť. (That should be enough.)

Negation. Put ne- on mal, not on the infinitive: Nemal by si fajčiť. (You shouldn't smoke.)

Compare. Musieť is a strong must. Mal by som is softer advice. Mať in the present asks or states what you are supposed to do: Čo mám robiť? (What should I do?)

Examples (6)

  1. Mal by si viac spať.

    You should sleep more.

    Word by Word: Had would you-are more to-sleep.

  2. Nemali by sme meškať.

    We shouldn't be late.

    Word by Word: Not-had would we-are to-be-late.

  3. Mala by som zavolať mame.

    I should call Mum.

    Word by Word: Had(f) would I-am to-call mum.

    A female speaker: mala.

  4. Mali by ste ísť k lekárovi.

    You should see a doctor.

    Word by Word: Had(pl) would you-are to-go to doctor.

    Polite vy takes the plural mali.

  5. Vlak by mal prísť o piatej.

    The train should arrive at five.

    Word by Word: Train would had to-arrive at five.

    Here mal by expresses an expectation, not advice.

  6. To by malo stačiť.

    That should be enough.

    Word by Word: That would had(neut) to-suffice.

Common Mistakes

  • Using an l-form after mal by som.

    Mal by som išiel domov.
    Mal by som ísť domov.

    Mal by som is followed by an infinitive. An l-form after by som belongs to rád by som, as in rád by som išiel.

  • Putting nie before the infinitive.

    Mal by si nie fajčiť.
    Nemal by si fajčiť.

    Slovak makes the whole phrase negative by adding ne- to mal.

  • Using a singular l-form with polite vy.

    Pani Kováčová, mala by ste si oddýchnuť.
    Pani Kováčová, mali by ste si oddýchnuť.

    With polite vy, the l-form is plural, even for one person.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

mal by som + InfinitiveLevel 3Should: Mal by Som

Learn This First

Before Should: mal by som, learn The Conditional Mood and Supposed To: mať. mal by som is a conditional of mať. mať + infinitive gives the base meaning of obligation.

Words in This Pattern