had been supposed

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been supposed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a situation or belief that was thought to be true in the past, but may not be true now. For example, "It had been supposed that implementing the new software would reduce costs, but so far the results have been inconclusive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He had been supposed to preach.

The New Yorker

Greece were not as limited as had been supposed.

The Guardian - Sport

They found that the impact on climate was nothing like as grim as had been supposed.

Independent

He also found that deep-sea temperatures are not as constant as had been supposed, indicating the presence of oceanic circulation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

At an early age Worsaae studied stone monuments in Denmark and proved them to be tombs rather than altars, as had been supposed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And he disappointed her by saying, that, well, yeah, he could, because she had been supposed to come, hadn't she? "I know, but it's crazy, right?" she said.

The New Yorker

HS2 was once touted as a green alternative to expanding Heathrow airport, but soon came to seem less environmentally pure than had been supposed.

The Economist

He decided that atoms are not infinite in variety as had been supposed and that they are limited to one of a kind for each element.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He then observed dryly that of the 137 nations that had been supposed to vote 'Yes', seven had voted 'No' and two had voted to abstain.

The Economist

Dr. Pesnell says it has already become apparent that the flow patterns within the Sun are more complicated than had been supposed.

The New York Times - Science

Anything they might learn while they are there was a bonus.An MBA had been supposed to reward its holder with an increase in lifetime career earnings.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been supposed" to clearly indicate a past expectation or plan that may no longer be valid or accurate. This helps to avoid ambiguity about the timeframe of the expectation.

Common error

Avoid using "was supposed" when you need to emphasize that the expectation existed and concluded entirely in the past. "Had been supposed" provides a clearer sense of completed expectation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been supposed" functions as a past perfect passive construction, indicating a state or action that was believed, intended, or expected to occur at some point in the past, before another past action or time. As Ludwig AI points out, this highlights an expectation or assumption that existed in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

23%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

5%

Science & Research

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been supposed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect passive construction. It serves to indicate past expectations or assumptions, often highlighting a contrast with the current situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is common in a variety of contexts, particularly within news, encyclopedias, and science. The phrase helps create a clear distinction between past beliefs and present realities. When writing, remember to use "had been supposed" to emphasize a concluded expectation in the past and differentiate it from ongoing or recent expectations. The high frequency and broad applicability of this phrase make it a valuable tool for expressing nuanced meanings in various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was expected to be

Replaces "supposed" with "expected", focusing on anticipation rather than a formal arrangement.

was intended to be

Emphasizes the initial plan or purpose behind something, shifting focus from expectation to intention.

was meant to be

Similar to "intended", but with a slightly less formal tone, implying a pre-ordained or natural course.

was believed to be

Focuses on the past belief surrounding something, rather than an explicit supposition.

was assumed to be

Highlights the assumption made in the past, without necessarily implying an intention or plan.

was considered to be

Indicates a past consideration or judgment, emphasizing evaluation over expectation.

was rumored to be

Suggests the existence of hearsay or speculation about something in the past.

was predicted to be

Highlights a past forecast or prediction, moving away from supposition towards anticipation.

was scheduled to be

Focuses on the planned timing of an event in the past that may not have occurred.

was designed to be

Stresses the original design purpose, implying a specific intended function or outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "had been supposed" in a sentence?

Use "had been supposed" to refer to something that was expected or planned to happen but did not, or to a belief that was held in the past but is no longer considered true. For example: "The meeting "had been supposed" to start at 10 AM, but it was delayed."

What alternatives can I use instead of "had been supposed"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "was expected to", "was intended to", or "was believed to be" in place of ""had been supposed"".

Is "had been suppose to" grammatically correct?

No, the correct form is ""had been supposed"". The past participle of "suppose" is "supposed", not "suppose".

What is the difference between "was supposed to" and "had been supposed to"?

"Was supposed to" typically refers to a more recent or ongoing expectation, while ""had been supposed" to" refers to an expectation that existed and concluded entirely in the past. The latter emphasizes the completion of the expectation in the past.