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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Supposed active or passive

is the phrase 'am supposed to..' an active or passive voice? though it looks to me like passive i found lots of websites making it for active. to me the it's like this; active 'The teachers are supposed to explain the word to the sdudents.' passive; 'The students EXPECT the teacher to explain them the word.' please help.
  

Top answer

"You are supposed to sing" is in passive voice. ) In actual practice, it expresses obligation. You are obliged to sing.

— Avangi

  • "You are supposed to sing" is in passive voice.
  • ) In actual practice, it expresses obligation.
  • You are obliged to sing.
  • You must sing.
  • ("You are obliged to sing" is in passive voice.
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9 Answers
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"You are supposed to sing" is in passive voice. (Someone supposes that you are going to sing.)
In actual practice, it expresses obligation. You are obliged to sing. You must sing.
("You are obliged to sing" is in passive voice. "You must sing" is in active voice.)

"I suppose you are going to sing" is in active voice.

I suspect this is going to be a very difficu
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but what about 'this letter is supposed to be typed' is it double passive?
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Interesting concept! I suppose you could say that.

This letter is to be typed.

Actually, I don't think this is passive voice.
It's more likely the copular verb plus an infinitive complement.

I am to go home today. I don't think this is passive voice. "Am" is the main verb, and is active.

The gun was assumed to be loaded. (single pa
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Anonymousis the phrase 'am supposed to..' an active or passive voice?
It is certainly passive in form, and you can invent an active counterpart:

I am supposed to be there at noon.
Someone supposes that I will be there at noon.

The invented active form is only weakly related to the passive form in meaning, however, because th
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CalifJimThe invented active form is only weakly related to the passive form in meaning, however, because the active form of 'suppose' has a meaning closer to 'conjecture' or 'expect' than to 'require'.
Excellent point!
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Welcome .....I m ready when you are.
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I disagree. 'Jane is to type this letter.' sounds more active than 'This letter is to be typed.'(by Jane)
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Rabbi KrauszI disagree. 'Jane is to type this letter.' sounds more active than 'This letter is to be typed.'(by Jane)
I agree with you, but whom are we disagreeing with??

I can't find anything in this thread to the contrary. (But I'm still struggling to find my way around.) - A.
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Someone requires Jane to type this letter.

I may be repeating what was already said, but note that there are two places where this active can become passive - the main verb and the infinitive.

Jane is required to type this letter (by someone). (main verb made passive)
Someone requires this letter to be typed by Jane. (infinitive made passive)
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