were supposed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were supposed" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate an expectation or obligation that was intended to happen in the past. Example: They were supposed to arrive by noon. Alternative expressions include "were meant to" and "were intended to."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We did what we were supposed to.

The New York Times - Sports

Touchbacks were supposed to be free.

The New Yorker

Orgies were supposed to take place there.

The New Yorker

We were supposed to shout "Yeah!

The New Yorker

They were supposed to be better prepared.

The New York Times - Science

Juries were supposed to change Russia.

The New York Times

We were supposed to be weird.

The New York Times

House districts were supposed to be small.

The New York Times

You were supposed to choose Abdul Wahab".

The New York Times

We were supposed to win.

The New York Times - Sports

You were supposed to skip step 21.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were supposed" to clearly indicate a past expectation or planned event that did not occur. This helps in conveying unfulfilled intentions or broken agreements.

Common error

Avoid using "were supposed" to describe current obligations. The phrase refers to past expectations. Use "are supposed to" for present duties.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were supposed" functions as a modal construction indicating a past expectation or obligation that was not fulfilled. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this usage, and confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Academia

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were supposed" is a grammatically sound and common way to express past expectations or obligations that were not met. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and provides a wide array of examples in news and media sources. To ensure clarity, avoid using it for current obligations and consider alternatives like "were meant to" or "were expected to" to fine-tune your meaning. When constructing sentences with "were supposed", remember that the subject-verb agreement is crucial, and use "was supposed" for singular subjects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were meant to

Emphasizes intention or design; slightly less direct than "were supposed".

were intended to

Highlights a formal plan or purpose that was not realized.

were expected to

Focuses on the anticipation or belief that something would happen.

had to

Indicates a necessity or obligation, often implying a requirement.

were obliged to

Similar to "had to", but carries a stronger sense of duty or compulsion.

were required to

Emphasizes a rule or regulation that mandated a certain action.

were slated to

Suggests a scheduled or planned event that was expected to occur.

were due to

Indicates a scheduled or anticipated event, focusing on timing.

should have

Expresses a moral or advisory obligation that was not fulfilled.

ought to have

Similar to "should have", but with a slightly stronger sense of moral duty.

FAQs

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

Use "were supposed" to describe something that was expected or intended to happen in the past, but did not. For example, "They "were supposed to" arrive by noon, but they're late."

What's the difference between "were supposed to" and "are supposed to"?

"Were supposed to" refers to a past expectation or plan, while "are supposed to" refers to a current expectation or obligation. The tense indicates the time frame.

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

You can use alternatives like "were meant to", "were intended to", or "were expected to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was supposed to" instead of "were supposed to"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "was supposed to" with singular subjects (e.g., "He was supposed to call"), and "were supposed to" with plural subjects (e.g., "They "were supposed to" help").