The phrase “be supposed to” is one of the most frequently used expressions in English, but also one of the most challenging to translate and understand for many learners. In this article, we will explain what it means, how to use it in different contexts, and how to translate it into other languages.
What does “be supposed to” mean?
The phrase “be supposed to” has two main meanings, depending on the context:
It can indicate an expectation, obligation, or duty that someone has or had. For example:
You are supposed to be at work by 9 am. (This is your expected or required time to arrive at work.)
He was supposed to call me yesterday, but he didn’t. (He had the obligation or duty to call me, but he failed to do so.)
They are supposed to wear uniforms at school. (This is the rule or norm that they have to follow.)
It can indicate a plan, intention, or prediction that someone has or had. For example:
We are supposed to go to the cinema tonight. (This is our plan or intention for tonight.)
She was supposed to graduate last year, but she dropped out. (This was her prediction or expectation for last year, but it didn’t happen.)
It is supposed to rain tomorrow. (This is the forecast or prediction for tomorrow.)
How to use “be supposed to” in different tenses and forms?
The phrase “be supposed to” can be used in different tenses and forms, depending on the time and mode of the action. Here are some examples:
Present simple: We use this tense to talk about general or habitual expectations, obligations, or plans. For example:
You are supposed to do your homework every day. (This is a general or habitual expectation or obligation.)
She is supposed to be a good singer. (This is a general or habitual plan or intention.)
Present continuous: We use this tense to talk about current or ongoing expectations, obligations, or plans. For example:
He is supposed to be working on his project right now. (This is a current or ongoing expectation or obligation.)
They are supposed to be having fun at the party. (This is a current or ongoing plan or intention.)
Past simple: We use this tense to talk about past expectations, obligations, or plans that did or didn’t happen. For example:
You were supposed to clean your room yesterday. (This was a past expectation or obligation that you did or didn’t do.)
He was supposed to marry her, but he changed his mind. (This was a past plan or intention that he didn’t do.)
Past continuous: We use this tense to talk about past expectations, obligations, or plans that were in progress or interrupted by another action. For example:
She was supposed to be studying for the exam, but she was watching TV. (This was a past expectation or obligation that she was doing, but she stopped or interrupted it.)
They were supposed to be travelling to Europe, but their flight was cancelled. (This was a past plan or intention that they were doing, but they couldn’t continue or complete it.)
Future simple: We use this tense to talk about future expectations, obligations, or plans. For example:
You are supposed to finish this report by tomorrow. (This is a future expectation or obligation that you have to do.)
She is supposed to visit her parents next week. (This is a future plan or intention that she has to do.)
Modal verbs: We can use modal verbs such as can, could, may, might, should, would, etc. to express different degrees of possibility, probability, ability, permission, advice, etc. with “be supposed to”. For example:
You can’t be supposed to know everything. (This expresses impossibility or inability with “be supposed to”.)
He could be supposed to be the next president. (This expresses possibility or probability with “be supposed to”.)
They may be supposed to arrive soon. (This expresses uncertainty or expectation with “be supposed to”.)
She might be supposed to call me later. (This expresses doubt or assumption with “be supposed to”.)
You should be supposed to respect your elders. (This expresses advice or recommendation with “be supposed to”.)
He would be supposed to help me, but he is busy. (This expresses preference or condition with “be supposed to”.)
Negative form: We can use the word not to make “be supposed to” negative, meaning that something is not expected, not obligatory, not planned, etc. For example:
You are not supposed to eat in the library. (This means that eating in the library is not allowed or not acceptable.)
He was not supposed to tell anyone the secret. (This means that he broke the rule or the promise by telling the secret.)
They are not supposed to be here. (This means that they are in the wrong place or at the wrong time.)
Question form: We can use “be supposed to” in questions to ask about expectations, obligations, plans, etc. For example:
What are you supposed to do today? (This asks about your schedule or tasks for today.)
How was he supposed to know that? (This asks about his source of information or knowledge.)
Where are they supposed to go? (This asks about their destination or direction.)
How to translate “be supposed to” into other languages?
The phrase “be supposed to” can be difficult to translate into other languages, since different languages have different ways of expressing the same ideas. Here are some possible translations of “be supposed to” into some common languages, but keep in mind that they may vary depending on the context, the tone, and the region:
Spanish: The phrase “be supposed to” can be translated as se supone que, tener que, deber, estar previsto que, estar planeado que, etc. For example:
Se supone que tienes que hacer tu tarea todos los días. (You are supposed to do your homework every day.)
Tenía que llamarme ayer, pero no lo hizo. (He was supposed to call me yesterday, but he didn’t.)
Está previsto que llueva mañana. (It is supposed to rain tomorrow.)
French: The phrase “be supposed to” can be translated as être censé, devoir, être prévu que, être sensé que, etc. For example:
Tu es censé faire tes devoirs tous les jours. (You are supposed to do your homework every day.)
Il devait m’appeler hier, mais il ne l’a pas fait. (He was supposed to call me yesterday, but he didn’t.)
Il est prévu qu’il pleuve demain. (It is supposed to rain tomorrow.)
German: The phrase “be supposed to” can be translated as sollen, müssen, erwarten, vorsehen, planen, etc. For example:
Du sollst deine Hausaufgaben jeden Tag machen. (You are supposed to do your homework every day.)
Er sollte mich gestern anrufen, aber er hat es nicht getan. (He was supposed to call me yesterday, but he didn’t.)
Es soll morgen regnen. (It is supposed to rain tomorrow.)
Chinese: The phrase “be supposed to” can be translated as 应该, 应当, 打算, 计划, 预计, etc. For example:
你应该每天做作业。 (You are supposed to do your homework every day.)
他应当昨天给我打电话，但是他没有。 (He was supposed to call me yesterday, but he didn’t.)
明天预计会下雨。 (It is supposed to rain tomorrow.)
Japanese: The phrase “be supposed to” can be translated as ～するはずだ, ～するべきだ, ～するつもりだ, ～する予定だ, ～する見込みだ, etc. For example:
あなたは毎日宿題をするはずだ。 (You are supposed to do your homework every day.)
彼は昨日私に電話するべきだったが、しなかった。 (He was supposed to call me yesterday, but he didn’t.)
明日は雨が降る予定だ。 (It is supposed to rain tomorrow.)
Conclusion
The phrase “be supposed to” is a very useful and versatile expression in English, but it can also be tricky to translate and understand for many learners. We hope this article has helped you to learn more about its meanings, uses, and translations. Remember that the best way to master any language is to practice it as much as possible, so try to use “be supposed to” in your own sentences and conversations. Good luck and have fun!
