hundred(s) / thousand(s)等數詞的單數與複數的用法
要理解 be supposed to的現在式 “is/am/are supposed to” 和過去式 “was/were supposed to” 的差異，首先需要明白這兩者所表達的含義是不同的。使用”is / am / are supposed to” 通常用於表達一種當前的期望、規範或者慣例。例如，當我們說 “She is supposed to finish her report by today,” 我們是在指出根據當前的計劃或期望，她應該在今天完成報告。相比之下，如果敘述的時間是現在(不是在述說故事或一件發生過的事件)，卻使用了過去時態的 “was/were supposed to” 則用於描述一個原先計劃或期望中的動作，但這個動作最終沒有發生或是被改變了。例如，”He was supposed to attend the meeting yesterday” 暗示著這個人原本計劃昨天參加會議，但實際上可能沒有參加。
除了上述的時態和用法差異，be supposed to的現在式跟過去式在語氣和隱含意義上也有細微的區別。當我們使用現在式”is/am /are supposed to” 時，這通常傳達了一種期待或標準的履行，並帶有一種相對正面或中性的語氣。然而，當我們用過去式 “was/were supposed to”時，經常隱含了一種失望或未達到預期的情感。這種語氣上的變化不僅增加了語言的表達豐富性，也為準確理解和表達情感或評價提供了更多的可能性。兩者間這種細微差異不僅關乎時態，還影響了所表達句子的整體含義，反映了我們對事件的不同認知和情感態度。
- is / am / are supposed to – 討論現在或未來的計劃、預期或責任。這個短語表達了一種義務感或者預期的行為方式
- was / were supposed to – 通常是在回顧過去，表達一種未實現的期望或者未履行的義務
is/am/are supposed to的使用語境跟意涵
be supposed to的現在式在英語中用來表達當前或未來某事物被期望發生或應當發生的情況。它可以用於描述當下的規則、期望、計劃，或者對未來的預期。以下是使用 “is supposed to” 的英文例句，來說明其用於描述現在的規則、期望或計劃，以及對未來的預期的情況：
- 通常行為(按計劃或正常情況下的預期)
The train is supposed to arrive at 10 AM.
火車應該在上午10點到達。 - 用來指出一個現行的規則或標準做法
You are supposed to wear a uniform at school.
你在學校應該穿制服。 - 表達對某人當前行為的期望
He is supposed to behave well in class.
他應該在課堂上表現良好。 - 描述了一個現在的計劃或安排
The meeting is supposed to start at 3 PM.
會議應該在下午3點開始。 - 表達對未來事件的預期
She is supposed to graduate next year.
她預計明年畢業。
請看下面例句，以便更熟悉be supposed to的現在式的使用語境跟意涵：
- The bus is supposed to arrive in fifteen minutes.
公車預計將在15分後到達。 - She is supposed to start her new job on Monday.
她預計將在週一開始她的新工作。 - This medicine is supposed to relieve pain.
這種藥物應該能緩解疼痛。 - He is supposed to call me when he lands.
他降落後應該給我打電話。 - The meeting is supposed to last for two hours.
會議預計持續兩個小時。 - You are supposed to wear a helmet when riding a bike.
騎自行車時你應該戴安全帽。 - The project is supposed to be completed by the end of the year.
該專案預計將在年底前完成。 - We are supposed to turn off all electronic devices before takeoff.
我們應該在起飛前關閉所有電子設備。 - The children are supposed to be in bed by 9 PM.
孩子們應該在晚上9點前上床。 - This software is supposed to make our work much easier.
這個軟體應該會讓我們的工作變得容易許多。 - Students are supposed to submit assignments on time
學生應該按時提交作業。
was/were supposed to的使用語境跟意涵
如果在對話的當下(現在)，使用be supposed to的過去式，則說話者要表達某件在過去被期望或應當發生的事，但實際上可能未按預期進行，也就是沒發生。以下是使用 “was supposed to” 的英文例句，來說明其用於描述過去計劃的情況：
- 用來表達過去計劃中的某事未能如期發生(過去未實現的期望)
He was supposed to meet me yesterday, but he didn’t show up.
他應該昨天來見我，但他沒有出現。 - 指出某人沒有遵循原本應該遵循的規則或指示
You were supposed to call me before leaving.
離開之前你應該要打電話給我的。 - 表示計劃未按預期進行
The game was supposed to finish by 5 PM, but it went into overtime.
比賽原本應該在下午5點結束，但它進入了加時賽(延長比賽)。 - 表示計劃被取消或改變
We were supposed to travel to Italy this summer, but we had to cancel our trip.
我們原本計劃今年夏天去意大利旅行，但我們不得不取消行程。 - 表示預期的行為沒有發生
He was supposed to call me after his interview, but I haven’t heard from him.
他面試後本應該給我打電話，但我還沒有收到他的消息。 - 表示未達成預期的結果
They were supposed to win the match, but they lost.
他們本應該贏得這場比賽，但他們輸了。
請看下面例句，以便更熟悉be supposed to在現在的時間點使用過去式的語境跟意涵：
- The party was supposed to start at 8 PM, but got delayed.
派對原定於晚上8點開始，但被延遲了。 - We were supposed to meet at 7 PM, but she didn’t arrive until 8.
我們原本約好7點見面，但她直到8點才到。 - We were supposed to go hiking, but it rained.
我們原本計劃去遠足，但是下雨了。 - He was supposed to finish the assignment by today, but he’s not done yet.
他原本應該在今天完成這項作業，但他還沒做完。 - She was supposed to be here an hour ago.
她應該在一小時前到這裡。 - We were supposed to have dinner together last night.
我們原本昨晚應該一起吃晚餐。 - He was supposed to finish the report by today, but he hasn’t started yet.
他本應在今天之前完成報告，但他還沒開始。 - The flight was supposed to leave at 9 AM, but it was cancelled.
飛機原定於上午9點起飛，但它被取消了。 - I was supposed to meet him at the coffee shop, but he never showed up.
我應該在咖啡店見他，但他沒有出現。 - The package was supposed to be delivered yesterday.
這個包裹原本應該昨天送達。 - The meeting was supposed to be brief, but it lasted all morning.
會議本應該很短暫，卻持續了整個上午。 - The concert was supposed to happen last night, but it was postponed due to bad weather.
昨晚原本應該有一場音樂會，但因為天氣不佳而被推遲了。
上面的句子中be supposed to後面的動作都沒有發生
要注意：如果是在閱讀故事時，因為故事的時間點是過去，那was/were supposed to就不具有上面所敘述的意涵了。
想要多瞭解英文造字原則、單字分辨或背單字的方法，讀者可以進入我們『單字與片語』頁面，做進一步的了解。如果你有其他文法上的疑惑，可以到我們『英文文法』專頁，看看有沒有文章探討相關文法問題。如果你對自然發音與如何協助兒童學英文、字詞、句子結構與寫作等英文學習上各個領域的文章有興趣，可以到我們的『兒童英文』或『文章』頁面。
