Be Supposed To: Form, Meaning, Use & Pronunciation

Hi everyone. I'm Jennifer from English  with Jennifer. I've been trying to make  

healthier choices, so I'm eating fewer sweets.  We're not supposed to eat a lot of sugar.  

Right? But we just had a holiday weekend,  and I decided to make a special dessert.  

I found a can of pumpkin in my pantry,  so I decided to make pumpkin squares.  

I found a recipe, and since this was a last-minute  decision, I had to use what I had in the house.  

I was supposed to use 16 ounces of canned  pumpkin, but the can only had 15 ounces.  

I decided to add in some applesauce to make  up for the difference, and guess what? The  

pumpkin squares turned out just fine. In fact,  they're super moist and I really like them.

What do I mean when I say, "We're not supposed  to eat a lot of sugar"? We can't eat it.  

We shouldn't eat it. We might eat it.

"Be supposed to" is closest in meaning to  "should." When I say we're not supposed  

to eat a lot of sugar, I'm saying  we shouldn't eat a lot of sugar.

"Should" is a modal verb. "Be supposed  to" is what some call a modal-like verb  

or semi-modal. The modal verb "should" doesn't  change form to agree in number with the subject  

or reflect tense, meaning time. But "be supposed  to" starts with "be." We can use: am, are, is,  

was, and were to agree with the subject and  show tense. "We're not supposed to eat a lot  

of sugar" means in general we shouldn't  do this. It's true now and all the time.

"I was supposed to add more pumpkin"  means I should have done this,  

but for some reason I didn't. In fact, I  couldn't and this happened in the past.

Let's study "be supposed to"  more carefully. As your teacher,  

I'm not supposed to end the lesson until I give  you a good explanation and some useful practice.

"Be supposed to" is followed by  the base verb. "Be" changes form,  

but the rest of the verb doesn't. We can use "be  supposed to" for expectations that are not met.

Ben is supposed to be here. Where is he?

And note my pronunciation. "To" reduces.  It sounds more like /tə/. Supposed to.  

Stress is on "supposed" and then the base  verb: supposed to be, supposed to be.  

The D links with the T. You'll only hear the T  

very clearly: supposed to. supposed to be.  Ben is supposed to be here. Where is he?

We use "be supposed to for expectations according  to a schedule or a procedure. Remember how I was  

supposed to add more pumpkin? Following a recipe  is a procedure, and I kind of missed a step.

Here's another example. I'm going to the theater  this weekend with my children, and the show is  

supposed to start at eight o'clock. But based  on my experience, I think it will start later.  

These shows never start on time. Note how my  examples can be for the past or the future.  

We can use a simple present verb for a  scheduled event in the future. The show  

is supposed to start at 8. We can use "be  supposed to" for intentions that are not  

carried out. I was supposed to do my morning  stretches, but I was in a rush, so I didn't.

Let me offer a few more examples.  

Darren was supposed to meet us at the  bus stop, but he didn't show up on time.  

This past expectation was not met. You can't leave  now. You're supposed to wait until the class ends.  

This is a present obligation. I was supposed to  send off my application today, but it's not ready.  

I need another day. This could be seen as a  past intention or possibly a past obligation.

Question: Is there something  you were supposed to do recently  

but didn't? Write your example in the comments.

We can make "be supposed to" negative with "not,"  and we do this for actions that are not allowed  

or that are not generally acceptable. You're  not supposed to ask a woman about her age.

You weren't supposed to start the test until the  teacher said it was time. Why didn't you wait?

We can use "be supposed to"  for commonly held beliefs  

that may not prove to be true. For example, many  people say that dogs are supposed to love water,  

but for some reason, our dog doesn't.  She has no interest in swimming.

At a live class last month, I talked with Patreon  members about Bigfoot. Have you heard about  

this creature? We also call it Sasquatch.  It's a creature that may or may not exist.  

Over the years, people have  said they saw him or her,  

but there's no real evidence  that Bigfoot really exists.

Bigfoot is supposed to be big and hairy. It  walks on two feet, and it could be part human,  

part ape. Bigfoot is supposed to  live all alone in the forest or  

up in the mountains somewhere in North America.

In other words, people say  that Bigfoot is big and hairy.  

It is believed or thought  that Bigfoot lives all alone.

Let's consider other mythical creatures.  What do you know about the Abominable Snowman?  

Have you heard about the kraken -- that legendary  sea monster that looks like a giant squid?  

Or tell me what you know about dragons.  Use "be supposed to." These are examples of  

commonly held beliefs that may  or may not prove to be true.

Let's see how well you understand the modal-like  verb "be supposed to." Take a three-question quiz.

One. You're supposed to wait your turn in line.  Which sentence is closest in meaning? A. You must  

wait your turn in line. B. You may wait your turn  in line. C. You should wait your turn in line.

Answer: C.

Two. What are you supposed to do if you're  in a hotel and the fire alarm goes off?  

A. Hide. B. Exit the building.  C. Call for room service.

The correct procedure is B.

Three. Ah, wasn't Ashley supposed to pack a lunch?

What does this likely mean? A. She packed a lunch.  B. She didn't pack a lunch. C. She's not hungry.

Most likely B. She was supposed to,  

but she didn't. Final question: Is  there anything you should do today,  

but you may not have time for? Tell me  what you're supposed to do in the comments.

Here's a bonus challenge. I was supposed to be working on my essay, but I got distracted.

Is this about the present or past? Past. Right?

Do you see the base verb?

There. And what follows the base verb?

A present participle.

This structure can have a progressive form.

Supposed to be doing something. So when I say I was supposed to be working on my essay,

I'm saying something should have been in progress. The action should have been happening.

But I got distracted. We can shift this to the present

and say, "I'm supposed to be working on my essay right now, but I can't focus."

If you want, write your own example of a progressive form and put it in the comments.

That's all for now. Please like and share  the video if you found the lesson useful.  

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