Unit 45. It is said that... He is said to ... He is supposed to ...
Unit 45; Part A
 Study this example situation: | ||||||||||||||
| You can use these structures with a number of other verbs, especially: alleged believed considered expected known reported thought understood Compare the two structures:
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Unit 45; Part B
(Be) supposed toSometimes (it is) supposed to ... = (it is) said to ... :
• I want to see that film. It's supposed to be good. (= it is said to be good)
• Mark is supposed to have hit a policeman, but I don't believe it.
But sometimes supposed to has a different meaning. We use supposed to to say what is intended, arranged or expected. Often this is different from the real situation:
• The plan is supposed to be a secret, but everybody seems to know about it. (= the plan is intended to be a secret)
• What are you doing at work? You're supposed to be on holiday. (= you arranged to be on holiday)
• Our guests were supposed to come at 7.30, but they were late.
• Jane was supposed to phone me last night, but she didn't.
• I'd better hurry. I'm supposed to be meeting Chris in ten minutes.
You're not supposed to do something = it is not allowed or advisable:
• You're not supposed to park your car here. It's private parking only.
• Jeff is much better after his illness, but he's still not supposed to do any heavy work.
Exercises
Write these sentences in another way, beginning as shown. Use the underlined word each time.Key.2 The weather is expected to be good tomorrow.
3 The thieves are believed to have got in through a window in the roof.
4 Many people are reported to be homeless after the floods.
5 The prisoner is thought to have escaped by climbing over a wall.
6 The man is alleged to have been driving at 110 miles an hour.
7 The building is reported to have been badly damaged by the fire.
8 a The company is said to be losing a lot of money.
b The company is believed to have lost a lot of money last year.
с The company is expected to make a loss this year.
1 Ir is expecced that the strike will end soon.
The strike is expected to end soon.
2 It is expected that the weather will be good tomorrow.
The weather is _________________________________
3 It is believed that the thieves got in through a window in the roof.
The thieves _________________________________
4 It is reported that many people are homeless after the floods.
Many people _________________________________
5 It is thought that the prisoner escaped by climbing over a wall.
The prisoner _________________________________
6 It is alleged that the man was driving at 110 miles an hour.
The man _________________________________
7 It is reported that the building has been badly damaged by the fire.
The building _________________________________
8 a It is said that the company is losing a lot of money.
The company _________________________________
b It is believed that the company lost a lot of money last year.
The company _________________________________
с It is expected that the company will make a loss this year.
The company _________________________________
| There are a lot of rumours about Alan. Here are some of the things people say about him: Key.2 He is supposed to know a lot of famous people. 3 He is supposed to be very rich. 4 He is supposed to have twelve children. 5 He is supposed to have been an actor when he was younger.  |
| Nobody is sure whether these things are true. Write sentences about Alan using supposed to. 1 Alan is supposed to speak ten languages. 2 He ____________________________________ 3 _______________________________________ 4 _______________________________________ 5 _______________________________________ |
Complete the sentences using supposed to be + the following:Key.2 You're / You are supposed to be my friend.
3 I'm /I am supposed to be on a diet.
4 It was supposed to be a joke.
5 Or maybe it's / it is supposed to be a flower.
6 You're / You are supposed to be working.
on a diet a flower my friend a joke |
2 You shouldn't criticise me all the time. You _________________________
3 I shouldn't be eating this cake really. I _________________________
4 I'm sorry for what I said. I was trying to be funny. It _________________________
5 What's this drawing? Is it a tree? Or maybe it _________________________
6 You shouldn't be reading the paper now. You _________________________
Write sentences with supposed to + the following verbs. Use the negative (not supposed to) where necessary.Key.2 're / are supposed to start
3 was supposed to phone
4 aren't / 're not / are not supposed to block
5 was supposed to arrive
arrive block |
2 We ______________________ work at 8.15, but we rarely do anything before 8.30.
3 Oh, I ______________________ Helen, but I completely forgot.
4 This door is a fire exit. You ______________________ it.
5 My train ______________________ at 11.30, but it was an hour late.
 | Unit 44 Unit 45 Unit 46 |  |