supposed to give

USAGE SUMMARY

"supposed to give" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that you are expected to provide or do, or something that you have been told to provide or do. Example sentence: "I was supposed to give my presentation yesterday, but I wasn't able to make it in time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

ELECTIONS are supposed to give us choices.

The New York Times

"The mayor was supposed to give clearance".

The New York Times

"We're supposed to give them money, supposed to give them volunteers, supposed to give them votes, and then please be quiet," Mr. Bozell said.

The New York Times

"You're supposed to give things up for Lent.

The New Yorker

Judges weren't supposed to give away their emotions.

The New York Times - Magazine

He was supposed to give these to us yesterday.

The Washington Post

Is that supposed to give them a dispensation?

The New Yorker

Higher education is supposed to give you skills and confidence.

The Guardian

It's not something that F.B.I. directors are supposed to give.

The New Yorker

"We are supposed to give them food every day".

The New York Times

Smart meters are supposed to give you more control over your electricity bills.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "supposed to give", ensure the context clearly indicates who expects the giving and what is being given. Clarity avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using the past tense form of "suppose" when referring to present obligations. Instead of "was suppose to give", use "was supposed to give" for past obligations and "is supposed to give" for present obligations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "supposed to give" functions as a modal construction expressing expectation, obligation, or intention. Ludwig shows examples where it describes duties, planned actions, or anticipated outcomes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

16%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "supposed to give" is a common and versatile phrase used to express expectations, obligations, or intentions. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in news media and academic writing. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure clarity regarding who expects the action and what is being given. While alternatives like "meant to provide" or "expected to offer" exist, "supposed to give" remains a direct and effective way to communicate planned or required actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meant to provide

Emphasizes intention or design, rather than obligation.

expected to offer

Highlights anticipation or expectation, often from an external source.

required to furnish

Implies a formal or legal requirement.

obligated to contribute

Stresses a sense of duty or moral imperative.

intended to impart

Focuses on the aim of conveying something, like knowledge or a quality.

designed to supply

Highlights the planned function of delivering something.

tasked with providing

Emphasizes that providing something is part of someone's assigned duties.

responsible for delivering

Indicates accountability for the delivery of something.

set to allocate

Implies planning or scheduling to distribute something specific.

scheduled to present

Focuses on a planned time for offering or displaying something.

FAQs

How to use "supposed to give" in a sentence?

You can use "supposed to give" to describe an expectation or obligation. For example, "He is supposed to give a presentation tomorrow", or "We are supposed to give them feedback on their work".

What can I say instead of "supposed to give"?

Alternatives include "meant to provide", "expected to offer", or "required to furnish" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "supposed to give" or "suppose to give"?

"Supposed to give" is correct. The 'd' is essential to indicate the past participle form of "suppose", which is necessary for expressing expectation or obligation. "Suppose to give" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "supposed to give" and "going to give"?

"Supposed to give" implies an obligation or expectation, while "going to give" simply indicates a future action. For example, "He's supposed to give a speech" means it's expected, while "He's going to give a speech" just means he plans to.