Should + bare infinitive, be supposed to + bare infinitive and be meant to + bare infinitive
To be supposed to lends itself to should when different forms are required.
There are many parallelisms and subtle shifts in meaning which tend to all overlap when expressing surprise, expectation, requirement or mild obligation.
When expectation overlaps with mild obligation
Situation one – present tense Jack: “Dad’s at home.”
Jill: “Is he? Isn’t he supposed to be at work?”
“Isn’t he meant to be at work?”
“Shouldn’t he be at work?”
Present tense – expectation (Is this to be expected?)
Is a dog’s nose supposed to be wet?
Is a dog’s nose meant to be wet?
Should a dog’s nose be wet?
Present tense – overlapping with external requirement/weak obligation/
firm expectations
I’m supposed to be at the dentist’s right now but I’m too afraid to go.
I’m meant to be at the dentist’s right now but I’m too afraid to go.
I should be at the dentist’s right now but I’m too afraid to go.
The negative = it is not recommended/it is not advisable to do something You aren’t supposed to swim after eating.
You aren’t meant to swim after eating.
You shouldn’t swim after eating. (It is advisable not to do this)
The negative of be supposed to and be meant to also take a shift in meaning when they take on a similar meaning to ‘not be allowed to’, lack of permission or prohibition. However, should does not take this meaning.
Example of prohibition
You aren’t supposed to drive without wearing a seatbelt.
You aren’t meant to drive without wearing a seatbelt.
The meaning in the following example reverts back to recommendation/advice/it is unwise to do this.
You shouldn’t drive without wearing a seatbelt.
Present tense – negative indicating advisability
You aren’t supposed to brush your teeth with a wet toothbrush. (It is advisable not to do this)
You aren’t meant to brush your teeth with a wet toothbrush. (It is advisable not to do this)
You shouldn’t brush your teeth with a wet toothbrush. It is advisable to apply toothpaste onto a dry toothbrush. (It is advisable not to do this)
Be supposed to also implies doubts about something.
She is supposed to be meeting me this afternoon. (There is a slight tone of doubt in the speaker’s voice) It is expected of her to meet me.
The new office is supposed to be opening in June. (Again, there is a slight tone of doubt in the speaker’s voice. It is expected that the new office will open in June but it is not 100 per cent certain)
WHEN ‘SHOULD’ NO LONGER OVERLAPS WITH ‘BE SUPPOSED
TO’ AND ‘BE MEANT TO’
We do not use should in its past tense when referring to something that was pre-arranged
We were supposed to go to the beach today but the car broke down so we didn’t go. (This was our plan/intention but due to circumstances beyond our control we did not go)
We were meant to go to the beach today but the car broke down so we didn’t go. (This was our intention/plan)
We should have gone to the beach this morning but the car broke down.
This sounds awkward.
We should have gone cycling but the weather was bad. Awkward sounding as the meaning reverts back to past advice therefore the clause
‘but the weather was bad’ cannot be used.
More examples
My boyfriend was supposed to be meeting me at 11.
My boyfriend was meant to be meeting me at 11.
My boyfriend should have been meeting me at 11.
I’m supposed to be going to the cinema on Friday.
I’m meant to be going to the cinema on Friday.
I should be going to the cinema on Friday.
Other ways to express an arrangement that did not take place
Was/were going to + bare infinitive
We were going to go to the beach this morning but the car broke down. (It was our intention to go to the beach but we didn’t go because the car broke down)
The past progressive form
We can also use ‘should’, ‘be supposed to’ and ‘meant to’ with a gerund to indicate the continuous tense meaning a requirement or expectation in
Mary went to her mother’s house to help her clean out the cupboard. She’s sitting on the armchair doing nothing.
Mary’s mother: You’re supposed to be helping me. (Expectation overlapping with mild obligation) You’re meant to be helping me. (Mild obligation) You should be helping me. (Mild obligation/expectation)
We can also use them in the past tense
She should have been working this morning.
She was supposed to be working this morning.
She was meant to be working this morning.
All three mean it was expected of her but she wasn’t working this morning.
Be meant to/be supposed to for an intended purpose
Father to son: Is that a paper plane you’ve made?
Son to father: No it isn’t. Does it look like one?
Father to son: Yes it does.
Son to father: It’s meant to be/it’s supposed to be a boat.
Be supposed to and be meant to are also used when reporting a claim made by a third person but should is not
Garlic is supposed to be good for the circulation of the blood. (This has been said to be the case)
Garlic is meant to be good for the circulation of the blood.
Garlic should be good for the circulation of the blood.
HAD BETTER VERSUS SHOULD AND OUGHT TO
We can use had better + bare infinitive (the infinitive without the to) in place of should and ought to. Had better, however, expresses more urgency and at times a threat).
Although, had better, has a past tense construction, it does not refer to the past. We use it for the present or the future. We usually always contract had better but in formal writing we don’t.
Examples
We should go now or we’ll miss the last train home.
We ought to go now or we’ll miss the last train home. (There’s a more urgent tone than what there is with should)
We’d better go now or we’ll miss the last train home. (More urgency than ought to)
You’d better tell the truth said the police officer to Johnny when he was being questioned at the police station. (A threatening tone)
SHALL VERSUS WILL
Shall and will are both used to make a suggestion or an offer. Shall is only used in first and second person singular.
Example Offer
Person A: “It’s very hot in here.”
Person B: “Shall I open the window? /Will I open the window?”
Suggestion
It’s getting late. Shall/will we go now?
Shall is also used in formal English as an alternative to must when writing contracts or similar documents. It is used as a polite form of obligation when must can sound too authorative.