they were supposed to

USAGE SUMMARY

"they were supposed to" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to something that two or more people were expected to do, but did not do. For example, "They were supposed to finish the project on time, but it is still not complete."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They were supposed to be better prepared.

The New York Times - Science

They were supposed to break him apart.

The Guardian - Sport

"They were supposed to fight the Americans.

The Washington Post

They were supposed to be studying.

The Guardian - Sport

They were supposed to sweep us".

The New York Times - Sports

They were supposed to be dry.

The New York Times - Books

...forget the true role they were supposed to be fulfilling.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Meaning, kill the person they were supposed to be helping.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"I think they did what they were supposed to do".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

"They're supposed to".

The Guardian - Film

They are supposed to.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were supposed to" when indicating a failure to meet an expectation or obligation, making sure the context clearly establishes who "they" refers to and what the expectation was. For instance, "The documents were supposed to be filed by Friday, but they're still on my desk."

Common error

Ensure that the pronoun "they" has a clear and unambiguous antecedent. Vague references can confuse readers. Instead of saying "They were supposed to fix it", clarify with "The technicians were supposed to fix it."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were supposed to" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase indicating an expectation, plan, or obligation that was not fulfilled. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were supposed to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote unfulfilled expectations or obligations. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, indicating its broad acceptance in English. Its neutral register makes it appropriate across various contexts, from news reports to academic discussions. Common errors include ambiguity, emphasizing the need for clear pronoun references. Alternatives like "they were expected to" offer similar meanings with slight variations in tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were expected to

Replaces "supposed to" with "expected to", emphasizing anticipation rather than obligation.

they were meant to

Substitutes "supposed to" with "meant to", suggesting an intended purpose that was not fulfilled.

they had a duty to

Emphasizes the moral or legal responsibility that was unfulfilled.

it was their responsibility to

Highlights the specific obligation that was not honored.

they were obliged to

Indicates a formal or binding obligation that was not met.

their task was to

Focuses on the specific assignment they failed to complete.

they were assigned to

Highlights the act of being assigned a responsibility that was neglected.

they were charged with

Emphasizes that the responsibility was officially entrusted to them.

it was anticipated that they would

Shifts focus to the anticipation of their action rather than their direct obligation.

the plan was for them to

Highlights the initial planning and intention that went unrealized.

FAQs

How do I use "they were supposed to" in a sentence?

Use "they were supposed to" to indicate an expectation or plan that was not fulfilled. For example, "They were supposed to arrive at 8, but they're late."

What's a more formal way to say "they were supposed to"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "they were expected to" or "it was their responsibility to" to convey a similar meaning with increased formality.

Is "they were suppose to" grammatically correct?

No, "they were suppose to" is incorrect. The correct form is "they were supposed to". The word is "supposed", not "suppose".

What is the difference between "they were supposed to" and "they should have"?

"They were supposed to" implies an agreement, expectation, or plan that wasn't followed. "They should have" expresses an opinion or recommendation about what the best course of action would have been. For instance, "They were supposed to bring the cake" means it was agreed they would. "They should have brought the cake" means it would have been a good idea.