were supposed to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were supposed to be" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate something that was planned but was not carried out. For example: "We were supposed to go to the beach this weekend, but then it started raining."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Touchbacks were supposed to be free.

The New Yorker

They were supposed to be better prepared.

The New York Times - Science

We were supposed to be weird.

The New York Times

House districts were supposed to be small.

The New York Times

The buildings were supposed to be separate.

The New York Times - Magazine

Chelsea were supposed to be scarred.

The Guardian - Sport

Pop songs were supposed to be corny.

The Guardian - Music

You were supposed to be quite good.

The Guardian - Opinion

They were supposed to be dry.

The New York Times - Books

We were supposed to be reborn – but as somebody else.

The Guardian

I believe no photos were supposed to be taken.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were supposed to be" to clearly indicate a deviation from an initial plan or expectation. This phrase is useful for pointing out discrepancies or unmet objectives.

Common error

Avoid using "were supposed to be" when describing purely hypothetical or conditional situations. It's more appropriate for expressing deviations from actual plans or expectations, not for speculative scenarios that never had a concrete basis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were supposed to be" functions as a modal expression indicating an expectation or plan that has not been realized. Ludwig shows that it's used to express deviation from an intended state, as in "The buildings were supposed to be separate."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were supposed to be" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate that something was expected or planned but did not happen. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys deviations from initial plans or expectations. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Science contexts. When writing, avoid using it in purely hypothetical scenarios. Alternative phrases include "were intended to be" and "were meant to be". Using this phrase correctly ensures clarity and accuracy in expressing unfulfilled expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were intended to be

Focuses on the original intention or design.

were meant to be

Emphasizes a preordained or expected outcome.

were expected to be

Highlights the anticipation or prediction of a certain state.

were planned to be

Stresses the formal arrangement or scheduling.

were designed to be

Focuses on the purpose behind a specific design or configuration.

were scheduled to be

Emphasizes the timing and formal scheduling of an event or state.

were slated to be

Highlights the official listing or designation of something.

were believed to be

Focuses on the widespread or commonly held belief about something.

were understood to be

Emphasizes a common understanding or implicit agreement.

were considered to be

Highlights a formal or informal assessment of something's status.

FAQs

How can I use "were supposed to be" in a sentence?

Use "were supposed to be" to indicate that something was intended or expected to happen, but didn't. For example, "The package "was supposed to be" delivered yesterday".

What's a good alternative to "were supposed to be"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "were intended to be", "were meant to be", or "were expected to be".

Is "were suppose to be" grammatically correct?

No, "were suppose to be" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "were supposed to be", with a 'd' at the end of 'supposed'.

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

"Were supposed to be" is used with plural subjects (e.g., "They were supposed to be here") while "was supposed to be" is used with singular subjects (e.g., "He was supposed to be here").