Sentences with “supposed to” and its usage

Hello everyone,

Are you confused about when and how to use “supposed to” in English sentences?

Don’t worry!

This phrase may seem tricky at first, but once you understand its usage, you’ll find it’s quite simple.

In this lesson, we’ll explore what “supposed to” means, how to use it correctly, and give you lots of examples to help you grasp its usage easily.

Understanding “Supposed To”

“Supposed to” is a common English phrase used to talk about expectations, obligations, or things that are assumed to happen based on rules, beliefs, or agreements.

It often indicates what is considered normal, proper, or expected in a particular situation.

How to Use “Supposed To”

Talking about Expectations: Use “supposed to” to express what is expected or required in a given situation. For example:

You’re supposed to wear a helmet while riding a bike.

Employees are supposed to arrive at work on time.

Expressing Assumptions or Beliefs: “Supposed to” can also convey assumptions or beliefs about what should happen. For instance:

The bus is supposed to arrive at 9:00 a.m.

She’s supposed to be an excellent cook.

Describing Social Norms or Rules: Use “supposed to” to describe social norms, conventions, or rules that are commonly understood. For example:

You’re not supposed to talk with your mouth full.

Students are supposed to raise their hands before speaking in class.

Indicating Obligation or Duty: “Supposed to” can imply a sense of obligation or duty to fulfill certain responsibilities. For instance:

I’m supposed to clean my room every Saturday.

Parents are supposed to take care of their children.

Read more:

• Everyday English Sentences – GOING – DOING – BEING
• Sentences with “Since” and “For”
• Daily Routine Sentences in English
• Sentences with “Used to” and its use
• English Sentences with “SHOULD”

Examples in Context

Let’s see “supposed to” in action with some examples:

Talking about Expectations:

Before: Students are supposed to study for their exams.

Now: Tom was supposed to call me, but he hasn’t yet.

Expressing Assumptions or Beliefs:

Before: The mail is supposed to come by noon.

Now: She’s supposed to know the answer, as she’s an expert in this field.

Describing Social Norms or Rules:

Before: You’re supposed to say “thank you” when someone helps you.

Now: People aren’t supposed to smoke in public places.

Indicating Obligation or Duty:

Before: Employees are supposed to attend the meeting.

Now: I’m supposed to finish this report by Friday.

Wrapping Up

Hope you now have a better understanding of how and when to use “supposed to” in English sentences.

Remember, it’s a handy phrase for expressing expectations, assumptions, norms, or obligations in various situations.

Keep practicing, and soon using “supposed to” will become second nature to you. 

Now, let’s look at sentences with “supposed to”.

Sentences with “supposed to”