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Enchanted Posted 18 years ago
Vocabulary
Be supposed to
Hi, Guys and gals,
Supposed to is a phrase that confuses me in many cases: here is one:
Woman talking about her murdered husband: He was supposed to be on a business trip."
I looked on Cambridge dictionary. There are 4 explanations of the word suppose. But none of them convinces me.
How do you think?
thanks,
Ench
Supposed to is a phrase that confuses me in many cases: here is one:
Woman talking about her murdered husband: He was supposed to be on a business trip."
I looked on Cambridge dictionary. There are 4 explanations of the word suppose. But none of them convinces me.
How do you think?
thanks,
Ench
Top answer
The fourth one. In your case, if her husband had not been murdered, then he should have been on a business trip. Or, her husband was planning to do the business before being murdered.
- The fourth one.
- In your case, if her husband had not been murdered, then he should have been on a business trip.
- Or, her husband was planning to do the business before being murdered.
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3 Answers
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The fourth one. In your case, if her husband had not been murdered, then he should have been on a business trip. Or, her husband was planning to do the business before being murdered.
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The thing about "supposed to" used in this way is that others are doing the supposing.
He is considered [by many] to be the smartest man in Alabama.
He is thought [by those who are in the know in Hollywood] to have a lock on an Oscar this year.
He is popularly supposed [by ignorant voters] to be the poor man's friend, but actually his policies favor the rich.
He is considered [by many] to be the smartest man in Alabama.
He is thought [by those who are in the know in Hollywood] to have a lock on an Oscar this year.
He is popularly supposed [by ignorant voters] to be the poor man's friend, but actually his policies favor the rich.
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It's the last one. Think of intended as including expected.
He was supposed/expected to be on a business trip. = [People / We all] thought he was on a business trip. = [People / We all] expected him to be on a business trip. = It was [supposed / expected] ( by [everyone / all of us] ) that he was on a business trip.
CJ
He was supposed/expected to be on a business trip. = [People / We all] thought he was on a business trip. = [People / We all] expected him to be on a business trip. = It was [supposed / expected] ( by [everyone / all of us] ) that he was on a business trip.
CJ
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