be supposed to

Question

0It seems to me that the following sentences display different meanings of "be supposed to,"(do you agree with this?) but I can not understand them very clear. Could you explain them? Thanks a lot.02br02br00Is this supposed to be surprising to me?02br02br00I am supposed to do that.02br02br00BTW, can you give me some examples where this phrase is used normally by native english speaker? Thank you very much.0-

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

0 Try these many threads: 02br
02br
05002br
02br
00 (next time pls use the top right Search box)0260hrefhttp://www.EnglishForward.com/search/supposed .htm

CalifJim · Answer

0 Both usages have to do with expectations, so they are not really so very different in meaning.02br
02br
00 Is this supposed to be surprising to me? Do you expect that this is surprising to me?02br
00 I am supposed to do that. It is expected (People expect) that I will do that. I am obligated to do that.02br
02br
00 CJ0-

J Lewis · Answer

0 Hi Calif Jim!02br
00Is "obligated" really a word? I would say "obliged". Or is it a question of AmE/BrE?0-

Marius Hancu · Answer

0 01blockquote

01cite10J Lewis12cite10Hi Calif Jim!12br
10Is "obligated" really a word? I would say "obliged". Or is it a question of AmE/BrE?12br
12blockquote

10It seems that it is correct for you to say "obliged" in the UK and that is different in the US. 02br
02br
00 However, it also seems it may be required in formal contexts even in the UK. I'll try to dig more ...02br
02br
00 ------02br
01b00oblige00 02b00(FORCE)02br
02br
00verb00 00[T00 00+ object + 01i00to02i00 infinitive]00 01font00(00MAINLY US OR FORMAL00 01b00obligate02b00)02font02br
00to force someone to do something, or to make it necessary for someone to do something:02br
02br
01i00The law obliges companies 01b00to02b00 pay decent wages to their employees.02i02br
01i00Sellers are not legally obliged to accept the highest offer.02br
02br
02i02br
00 -------01i02br
02i00 0-

Marius Hancu · Answer

0 More on01b00 obligate/oblige02b00:02br
02br
00 According to this US source, they are synonyms only in the meaning 01b003b02b00:02br
02br
00 -------02br
01b00obligate02b02br
02br
00 Function: 01i00transitive verb02br
02i02br
00 Etymology: Latin 01i00obligatus, 02i00past participle of 01i00obligare 02i00to oblige -- more at 01a00OBLIGE02a02br
01b02br
00 102b00 01i00obsolete02i00 01b00: 01a00BIND02a00, 01a00FASTEN02a02br
02br
02b002 a00 01b00:02b00 to pledge as security 01b00b02b00 01b00:02b00 to assign or commit (as funds) to meet a particular 05200<the treasury had 01i00obligated 02i00anticipated receipts from the new tax>02br
02br
01b003 a02b00 01b00:02b00 to constrain or bind to some course of action (as by legal measures, moral or social considerations, or force of circumstances) <01i00obligated 02i00to pay alimony> <community life 01i00obligate02i00s 00each of us to certain restraints and conformities> 01b00b02b00 01b00: 01a00OBLIGE 02a02b003a <hoping to 01i00obligate02i00 enough of his colleagues to put over the measure> <I don't like to be 01i00obligated 02i00to anybody>02br
01b02br
00 402b00 01b00:02b00 to put under a promise, vow, or oath especially as part of a ceremony of initiation into an organization 02br
02br
05100 (30 Jan. 2007). 02br
00 --------02br
02br
00 According to the SOED, obligate still exists in BrE with the formal meaning at 3, but not the one at 4: 02br
02br
00 -------02br
01b00obligate02b02br
02br
00 1-2 (obsolete meanings)02br
02br
00 3 01font00Bind a person (morally or legally)02font00. Usually in 01i00passive02i00, be bound or compelled 01i00(to do)02i00. 02br
02br
00 4. Confer a favor on, place under an obligation; oblige. Usually in 01i00passive.02i00 Now chiefly 01i00dialect and North America. 02br
02br
02i00 Shorter Oxford English Dictionary02br
00 --------02br
01i02br
02br
02i00 00 05002br
030src#f1.gifw598241242hrefhttp://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/unabridged?book=Third&va=obligationcobligation

Osee · Answer

0thanks, you guys0-

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