GRAMMAR
©
Be supposed to
If you’ve ever been confused about the phrase 'be supposed to', this lesson is
just what you need! You’ll discover the various ways to use 'be supposed to'
and how it differs from similar phrases. We’ll explore its meanings, from
talking about expectations to discussing general beliefs. By the end of this
lesson, you’ll be using 'be supposed to' with confidence. Let’s get started!
be supposed to: form
The basic structure is:
subject + be supposed to + base verb
You should conjugate 'be' to match the subject and the tense.
I am supposed to…
You were supposed to…
She is supposed to…
Remember that in speech, we usually contract the subject and the form of 'be'.
I’m supposed to…
She’s supposed to…
And did you notice how I said 'supposed to' in this sentence?
I’m supposed to be at work by 9am.
I don't pronounce the final /d/ of 'supposed'. Most speakers don’t say
'supposed to' pronouncing both words fully. They elide (or remove) the final
/d/ of the first word, which makes it easier to join to the next smoothly.
suppose to - /səˈpəʊz tə/.
YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY
GRAMMAR
©
You might also hear 'spose', rather than 'suppose', without pronouncing the
first vowel /ə/. This reduces the number of syllables in the word from 2 to 1 -
2
1
su-ppose
spose
Spose to /spəʊz tə/or /spəʊs tə/ with the /s/. This is very common in fast,
informal speech.
be supposed to: use
There are a few ways we use 'be supposed to'. One is to talk about a duty,
obligation or arrangement. In this sense, it’s similar to 'have to'. But it’s not
exactly the same! Let’s look at these examples:
I have to be at work by 9am.
I’m supposed to be at work by 9am.
The difference is that 'have to' is a strong obligation. 'Be supposed to' is an
expectation.
have to = obligation
be supposed to = expectation
You’re expected to do something, though you might not. Let’s expand those
sentences a bit:
I have to be at work by 9am because we have a team meeting every
morning.
I’m supposed to be at work by 9am, but because of traffic, I’m often late.
YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY
GRAMMAR
©
Here are some more examples:
I’m supposed to buy a cake for my husband’s birthday.
We’re supposed to submit our proposal by Friday.
Our children are supposed to be washing up, but we can hear them having
a water fight.
Notice that I used 'be + -ing verb' here to indicate that something is
happening now.
I’m supposed to call my parents if I'm going to be home late, but
sometimes I forget.
The parcel is supposed to be delivered by Friday.
Note that this is a passive structure: 'be supposed to be + past
participle'.
was/were supposed to
Similarly, we use 'was/were supposed to' when we expected something to
happen or we were expected to do something but didn’t. For example You were supposed to be here hours ago!
(But you weren’t - you were very late.)
I was supposed to buy a cake for my husband’s birthday.
(But I forgot.)
Alina was supposed to help me decorate for the party, but she didn’t turn
up.
So in the present, 'be supposed to' is an expectation which may or may not be
fulfilled. However, when we use it in the past, it’s almost always because it
didn’t happen.
However, we can also use 'be supposed to' when we don't know if something
happened or not. For example:
Did Sam post the letters this morning?
He was supposed to, but I haven’t seen him yet.
YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY
GRAMMAR
©
be not supposed to: meaning
Now, what if we make it negative? 'Be not supposed to'. This can mean 'not
allowed'. However, 'be not supposed to' is less strong and there’s a feeling
that people might do the action anyway. Here are some examples:
Students are not supposed to use their phones during class.
I wasn’t supposed to eat sweets before dinner when I was a child.
Can we touch the sculptures?
No, you’re not supposed to.
be not supposed to: pronunciation
We often pronounce ‘to’ differently depending on where it is in the sentence.
You’re not supposed to /tə/ touch the sculptures.
You’re not supposed to /tu:/.
In the first sentence, 'to' is pronounced very quickly with a schwa sound. Not
/tu:/ but /tə/. Most people will pronounce it /tə/ if a word comes after it You’re not supposed to touch…
But /tu:/ if there's no word after it You’re not supposed to.
be supposed to vs should: meaning
Now, let’s look at ‘be supposed to’ versus ‘should’. Look at these example
sentences:
I should stop drinking coffee in the evening.
I’m supposed to stop drinking coffee in the evening.
YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY
GRAMMAR
©
The first one - with should - is something I think is true or a good idea.
I can’t sleep at night, so I think I should stop drinking coffee in the
evening.
The second one - with ‘be supposed to’ - is something someone else thinks is
true or a good idea for me to do, perhaps my doctor. But it’s definitely not me!
Here’s another example:
My trainer said I’m supposed to warm up before my workouts.
I’m supposed to start meditating or doing yoga to help me relax.
It’s also important to note that these phrases differ in formality and
directness.
You’re supposed to turn off your phone in the theatre.
(neutral, sounds more like a suggestion)
You should turn off your phone in the theatre.
(slightly more direct advice)
And we can also use ‘must’ to be even more direct with our instruction.
You must turn off your phone in the theatre.
(very formal, strong instruction)
We can also use ‘be not supposed to’ to mean ‘shouldn’t’ or something is not
a good idea but you might do it anyway. Look at these sentences:
You’re not supposed to brush your teeth immediately after eating.
(But a lot of people do!)
My Italian friend said carbonara isn’t supposed to have cream in it.
(But that’s how I’ve always made it!)
YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY
GRAMMAR
©
be supposed to: use
Another use of ‘be supposed to’ is to say what something or someone is
generally thought to be or do. It’s like saying, “Everyone says this, but I don’t
personally know if it’s true.” For example Snake plants are supposed to be easy to care for.
Breaking a mirror is supposed to bring 7 years of bad luck.
She’s supposed to be a brilliant doctor.
You might see these sentences followed by ‘but’ and a contrasting statement
if you have personal experience or a different opinion. For example Snake plants are supposed to be easy to care for, but I managed to kill
mine within a week.
Being pooped on by a bird is supposed to be good luck, but it doesn’t feel
like it when it happens!
YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY
GRAMMAR
©
Activity
Choose the correct answer for each question.
1. Which sentence uses 'be supposed to' to indicate something that was expected but
didn't happen?
a. We were supposed to have a picnic, but it rained.
b. We are supposed to have a picnic if it doesn't rain.
c. We will be supposed to have a picnic next weekend.
2. Which sentence expresses a general belief, though it might not be true?
a. Eating garlic is good for your health.
b. You’re supposed to eat garlic.
c. Eating garlic is supposed to be good for your health.
3. Which sentence correctly uses 'be supposed to' in the passive voice?
a. The document was supposed to be sent to your email.
b. The document is in your email.
c. The document is supposed to be really interesting.
Choose the words from the word bank to complete each sentence in questions
4-8 below.
a. were
b. are
c. not
d. supposed
e. was
4. This recipe ________ supposed to be easy for beginners.
5. The new policy ________ supposed to be implemented last month.
6. You ________ supposed to submit your application by last Friday.
7. Children are ________ supposed to run in the hallways.
8. ________ you 9. ________ to attend the conference tomorrow?
Answers:
1) a 2) c 3) a 4) f 5) e 6) a 7) c 8) b 9) d
YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY
f. is