Was supposed to have vs is supposed to have

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Was supposed to have' is used when referring to something that was expected or intended to happen in the past but did not. 'Is supposed to have' is used when referring to something that is expected or intended to happen in the present or future.

Last updated: April 09, 2024 • 143 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to something that was expected or intended to happen in the past but did not.

"Was supposed to have"

This phrase is used to talk about expectations or intentions that were not fulfilled in the past. It indicates a past obligation or duty that was not met.

Examples:

He was supposed to have finished the report by yesterday.
She was supposed to have called me before leaving.
The package was supposed to have arrived by now.

Show examples from the web [+]

Your path through the world this morning was supposed to have been adjusted.
Someone was supposed to have lured him up here for a drink.
I was supposed to have all night to practice.
I was supposed to have an aneurysm, but you killed me instead.
Freddy was supposed to have some papers for me.
This was supposed to have been Errol Flynn's house.
This framework decision was supposed to have been transposed by August 2004.
A meet was supposed to have taken place at this house.
Security was supposed to have covered them with plywood, but they thought nobody would come through that door.
I mean, she was supposed to have moved her stuff out of the flat today.
My wife was supposed to have tidied up before she went to work.
Father's day... No, I was supposed to have custody of Jericho and Cherokee today.
We were leaving the ship that was supposed to have sustained us for our first two years on Mars.
Was supposed to have three events here in the next week.
I was supposed to have eyes on Dalton.
CTU was supposed to have raided the terminal by now.
This was supposed to have chunks of real carrot in it.
This was supposed to have 20 bricks of RDX here.
I was supposed to have game night with Ellie and Awesome.
I was supposed to have game night with Ellie and Awesome.

Alternatives:

was meant to have
was expected to have
was scheduled to have
was required to have
was obligated to have

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to something that is expected or intended to happen in the present or future.

"is supposed to have"

This phrase is used to talk about expectations or intentions that are expected to be fulfilled in the present or future. It indicates a current or future obligation or duty.

Examples:

He is supposed to have the project completed by Friday.
She is supposed to have sent the email already.
The repairman is supposed to have fixed the issue by now.

Show examples from the web [+]

A good sword is supposed to have blood.
It is supposed to have participated, among the vessels of small tonnage, in the American war of independence.
In Egypt, after an interval, Jeremiah is supposed to have added three sections, viz., ch.
Here, at the age of twelve Mani is supposed to have received his first revelation.
He is supposed to have been a pupil of Antonio of Murano, though conjectures by critics vary about him and his work.
Her son is supposed to have carved it.
It is supposed to have been built in 1485, though the first record of it was in 1547.
He is supposed to have lived in the middle of the 5th century.
Not one of them remembers that "practical centre" which according to Yaroslavsky is supposed to have guided all the organisations.
The joto is the ancestor who is supposed to have taken the clay necessary for the creation of your physical and moral being; you are therefore like him, particularly as regards character.
Addas is supposed to have spread it in the Orient (ta tes anatoles), Thomas in Syria, and Hermas in Egypt.
Nobody is supposed to have a second chance like that.
Each tablescape is supposed to have three gourds.
The first pastor is supposed to have been Marcello Jhodarelli in 1670.
It is supposed to have existed also during the Second Bulgarian Empire.
The development of the Magenta kernel is supposed to have started in February 2016.
Each SHG is supposed to have around 20 members with relatively similar incomes.
And all this is happening because someone is supposed to have informed on me.
Oleg, this is supposed to have extra croutons.
The situation is contrary to democracy, whereby everyone is supposed to have equal opportunities.

Alternatives:

is meant to have
is expected to have
is scheduled to have
is required to have
is obligated to have

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Was supposed to have vs is supposed to have