supposed to happen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "supposed to happen" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate an expectation or belief that something should occur as planned or intended. Example: "The meeting was supposed to happen yesterday, but it was postponed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's supposed to happen".

The New York Times - Sports

That's not supposed to happen.

The New York Times

This wasn't supposed to happen.

The New York Times - Food

It's not supposed to happen".

The New York Times

This is not supposed to happen.

The New York Times

This was not supposed to happen.

The New York Times

So how is that supposed to happen?

The New York Times

You get what's supposed to happen.

The New Yorker

An election is supposed to happen.

The Economist

Again, this wasn't supposed to happen.

The New York Times

But it was never supposed to happen.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "supposed to happen" to express an expectation or a plan that may or may not have been fulfilled. For instance, "The package was "supposed to happen" yesterday, but it's delayed."

Common error

Avoid using "supposed to happen" as a definitive statement of fact. It implies a prior plan or expectation, not necessarily a guaranteed outcome. Instead of saying "It's "supposed to happen", so it will", acknowledge the possibility of deviation by adding 'but it might not'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "supposed to happen" functions as a modal phrase indicating expectation, intention, or plan. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It describes something that is anticipated or scheduled but doesn't guarantee its occurrence. The modal verb "supposed" modifies the verb "happen", expressing a degree of contingency.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0.5%

Wiki

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "supposed to happen" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express an expectation or plan. Ludwig AI confirms this. While highly prevalent in news and media, its usage is appropriate across various contexts, though its core meaning implies a degree of uncertainty or contingency. When writing, remember it indicates a prior plan or expectation, rather than a definitive guarantee. Consider alternatives like "expected to occur" or "intended to take place" for greater clarity or formality when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expected to occur

Focuses on the expectation of an event taking place.

intended to take place

Highlights the planned or deliberate nature of the event.

meant to be

Implies a sense of destiny or predetermination.

scheduled to occur

Indicates that an event is part of a timetable or plan.

predicted to happen

Suggests a forecast or anticipation of an event.

destined to be

Implies an inevitable or predetermined outcome.

ought to occur

Expresses a sense of obligation or expectation.

set to transpire

A more formal way of saying something is arranged to occur.

should come to pass

A more formal way of saying something is likely to happen.

was going to happen

Expresses a past expectation or plan.

FAQs

What does "supposed to happen" mean?

The phrase "supposed to happen" indicates something is expected or planned to occur. It often carries an implication that the event might not actually occur as intended.

How can I use "supposed to happen" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe expected events, such as, "The delivery was "supposed to happen" today". Or, you can use it to express disbelief when something unexpected occurs, like, "That wasn't "supposed to happen"!".

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

You can use alternatives like "expected to occur", "meant to be", or "intended to take place" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was "supposed to happen""?

Yes, "was "supposed to happen"" is grammatically correct. It refers to something that was expected to occur in the past but may or may not have happened. For example, "The meeting was "supposed to happen" yesterday, but it was postponed".