How to use "BE SUPPOSED TO" *properly* in English! - Formation, Pronunciation and Usage!

Key Concepts

• 'Be supposed to': Duty, obligation, arrangement, expectation, something generally thought to be.
• Contraction: Shortening of words (e.g., I'm, She's).
• Elision: Omission of a sound or syllable when speaking (e.g., 'suppose to' instead of 'supposed to').
• Schwa: A reduced vowel sound, often represented as /ə/.
• Passive structure: 'be supposed to be' + past participle.

Form and Pronunciation of 'Be Supposed To'

• Basic Structure: Subject + 'be supposed to' + base verb.
  • 'Be' is conjugated to match the subject and tense (e.g., I am, You were, She is).
• Contraction: In speech, the subject and 'be' are often contracted (e.g., I'm, She's).
• Pronunciation:
  • The final 'd' of 'supposed' is often elided, resulting in 'suppose to'.
  • Common pronunciations: /səˈpəʊs tə/ (supposed to), /spəʊz tə/ or /spəʊs tə/ ('spose to' - very common in fast, informal speech).

Uses of 'Be Supposed To'

1. Duty, Obligation, or Arrangement (Expectation vs. Strong Obligation)

• Similar to 'have to' but indicates an expectation rather than a strong obligation.
• Example:
  • "I have to be at work by 9 am because we have a team meeting every morning." (Strong obligation)
  • "I'm supposed to be at work by 9 am, but because of traffic, I'm often late." (Expectation, may not be fulfilled)
• More Examples:
  • "I'm supposed to buy a cake for my husband's birthday."
  • "We're supposed to submit our proposal by Friday."
  • "Our children are supposed to be washing up, but we can hear them having a water fight." (Using 'be' + -ing verb to indicate something happening now)
  • "The parcel is supposed to be delivered by Friday." (Passive structure: 'be supposed to be' + past participle)
• Past Tense ('was/were supposed to'): Indicates something expected to happen or be done but didn't.
  • "You were supposed to be here hours ago." (But you weren't)
  • "I was supposed to buy a cake for my husband's birthday." (But I forgot)
• Can also be used when we don't know if something happened or not.
  • "Did Sam post the letters this morning? He was supposed to, but I haven't seen him yet."

2. 'Be Not Supposed To' (Not Allowed)

• Means 'not allowed' but is less strong than a direct prohibition. Implies that people might do the action anyway.
• Examples:
  • "Students are not supposed to use their phones during class."
  • "I wasn't supposed to eat sweets before dinner when I was a child."
  • "Can we touch the sculptures? No, you're not supposed to."
• Pronunciation of 'to':
  • Generally pronounced /tə/ (schwa sound) when a word follows it (e.g., "You're not supposed to touch").
  • Generally pronounced /tu:/ when it ends a sentence (e.g., "You're not supposed to.").

3. 'Supposed To' vs. 'Should'

• 'Should' indicates something the speaker thinks is true or a good idea.
• 'Be supposed to' indicates something someone else thinks is true or a good idea.
• Example:
  • "I should stop drinking coffee in the evening." (Speaker's own belief)
  • "I'm supposed to stop drinking coffee in the evening." (Someone else, like a doctor, suggested it)
• More Examples:
  • "My trainer said I'm supposed to warm up before my workouts."
• 'Be not supposed to' can also mean 'shouldn't' or something is not a good idea, but you might do it anyway.
  • "You're not supposed to brush your teeth immediately after eating." (But a lot of people do.)
  • "My Italian friend said carbonara isn't supposed to have cream in it." (But that's how I've always made it.)

4. General Belief or Common Knowledge

• Used to say what something or someone is generally thought to be or do. It's like saying 'everyone says this, but I don't personally know if it's true.'
• Examples:
  • "Snake plants are supposed to be easy to care for."
  • "Breaking a mirror is supposed to bring seven years of bad luck."
  • "She's supposed to be a brilliant doctor."
• Often followed by 'but' and a contrasting statement based on personal experience or a different opinion.
  • "Snake plants are supposed to be easy to care for, but I managed to kill mine within a week."

Conclusion

The phrase 'be supposed to' is versatile, expressing expectations, duties, common beliefs, and implied permissions or prohibitions. Understanding its nuances, especially in contrast to 'have to' and 'should,' is crucial for accurate and natural English communication. The pronunciation tips, particularly regarding elision and the schwa sound, further enhance fluency. The video encourages viewers to download a free PDF exercise pack for further practice.