it was supposed

USAGE SUMMARY

"it was supposed" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
For example, "It was supposed to be a beautiful day, but the rain ruined our picnic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was supposed to proffer the prescriptive.

The New York Times

IT WAS supposed to be recession-proof.

The Economist

It was supposed to last 60 days.

The Economist

It was supposed to be very sexy".

The New York Times

It was supposed to help him.

The New York Times

Indeed it was supposed to happen.

The Guardian - Opinion

Then it was supposed to manage apps.

The New York Times

It was supposed to kick in.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was supposed to be like that.

The New York Times

It was supposed to be 10.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was supposed to prevent such problems.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was supposed to", ensure the context clearly indicates what the expectation was and why it wasn't met. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "it was supposed to" without specifying what was supposed to happen. For example, instead of "It was supposed to work", specify "The new software was supposed to improve efficiency".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was supposed" typically functions as part of a verb phrase to express an unfulfilled expectation, plan, or intention. It sets up a contrast between what was anticipated and what actually happened. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used correctly in standard English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Academia

6%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was supposed" is a common and grammatically sound way to express unmet expectations or plans that didn't materialize, according to Ludwig AI. As the numerous examples curated by Ludwig demonstrate, it's frequently used in news and media to report on situations where reality diverged from what was anticipated. While it can be used in various registers, from informal to semi-formal, it's crucial to ensure clarity by specifying what exactly was "supposed" to happen. Alternatives like "it was intended to" or "it was meant to" can offer subtle nuances, but the core function remains the same: highlighting a discrepancy between expectation and reality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It was intended to

Replaces "supposed" with "intended", focusing on the original intention or plan.

It was meant to

Substitutes "supposed" with "meant", emphasizing the designed or expected purpose.

It should have

Uses "should have" to express a sense of obligation or expectation that was not fulfilled.

It was designed to

Focuses on the design aspect and the expected function, rather than a general expectation.

The plan was for it to

Rephrases the sentence to highlight the original plan or arrangement.

It was scheduled to

Emphasizes the timing and anticipated schedule of an event or action.

It was anticipated to

Uses "anticipated" to convey a sense of expectation based on prior knowledge or assumptions.

It was expected to

Directly states the expectation that something would occur or be a certain way.

The expectation was that it would

Formal rephrasing, highlighting that an expectation was there.

It had been agreed that it would

Highlights the pre-existing agreement that something would happen.

FAQs

How can I use "it was supposed" in a sentence?

The phrase "it was supposed" introduces an expectation or plan that didn't materialize. For instance, "It was supposed to rain today, but it's sunny" indicates a weather forecast that was incorrect.

What are some alternatives to "it was supposed to"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it was intended to", "it was meant to", or "it was expected to depending on the context".

Is it correct to say "it was suppose to"?

No, the correct form is "it was supposed to". The word "supposed" ends with a 'd'.

What's the difference between "it was supposed to" and "it should have"?

"It was supposed to" indicates an expectation or plan, while "it should have" implies an obligation or a more normative expectation. For instance, "It was supposed to be delivered yesterday" suggests a planned delivery date, while "It should have been delivered yesterday" implies a failure to meet a standard delivery timeframe.