Lesson Seven

(be) supposed to _____

Idiomatic and passive, this shows expectation.

Someone expects you to do something in the present or the future:

Singular	Plural
I'm supposed to go	We're supposed to go
You're supposed to go	You're supposed to go
He's supposed to go
She's supposed to go	They're supposed to go
It's supposed to go

 

Someone expected you to do something in the past:

Singular	Plural
I was supposed to go	We were supposed to go
You were supposed to go	You were supposed to go
He was supposed to go
She was supposed to go	They were supposed to go
It was supposed to go

 

"(be) supposed to" can only be used with the present and past tense forms of the verb "be." The verb "be" indicates the tense.

Watch this video:

 

 

examples

Only bicyclists are supposed to use this bike path.
He was supposed to be at a business meeting at 2:00. It's now 2:15 and he's calling to say that he'll be late.
My son is supposed to keep this bird feeder full of food.
While watching a movie in a movie theather, movie goers are supposed to keep quiet.
A doctor will tell you that you're supposed to exercise if you want to stay healthy.

 

Next: Lesson Eight