Supposed to

Question

Hi! Does supposed to mean should? Thanks, FulvioI am supposed to do the dishes.You are supposed to do the ironing.You are supposed to clean the room.You are supposed to wear a helmet.I am supposed to study.You are supposed to do the laundry.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

yellowstarstruck
Hi! Does supposed to mean should? Thanks, Fulvio
I am supposed to do the dishes.
You are supposed to do the ironing.
You are supposed to clean the room.
You are supposed to wear a helmet.
I am supposed to study.
You are supposed to do the laundry.

Roughly, yes. But not exactly, and not always. It's often closer to "required to". You should stop at a red light sounds like a recommendation, but it's more than just that. You're supposed to stop at a red light sounds like a requirement, which it is.

Here's what Wiktionary has:

supposed to
(idiomatic) Required to, ought to
I am supposed to report to the police every week.
Paul is supposed to call his mother every day.

(idiomatic, with not) Permitted to.
I am not supposed to smoke there.

(idiomatic) Intended to; expected to; believed to.
It's supposed to rain.
The thief is supposed to be hiding in the forest.

CJ

Supposed to

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