Supposed vs Meant

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Larry Cooper - 22 Oct 2004 06:22 GMT

In a novel by John le Carre' a member of the Circus reported to a superior
that someone was "supposed to be..." The superior questioned the word
"supposed" and the subordinate amended it to "meant to be..." I've checked
a number of sources on the internet trying to determine whether this is a
legitimate point of grammar or perhaps simply another British English vs
American English issue, but with no success.

Comments?

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Einde O'Callaghan - 22 Oct 2004 07:40 GMT

> In a novel by John le Carre' a member of the Circus reported to a superior
> that someone was "supposed to be..." The superior questioned the word
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Comments?

A bit more context would be nice.

I think I can detect a nuance of difference, but it would depend very
much on the context.

Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

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Molly Mockford - 22 Oct 2004 08:55 GMT

At 05:22:13 on Fri, 22 Oct 2004, Larry Cooper <lcooper@ix.netcom.com>
wrote in <9O0ed.3910$%h1.937@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net>:

>In a novel by John le Carre' a member of the Circus reported to a superior
>that someone was "supposed to be..." The superior questioned the word
>"supposed" and the subordinate amended it to "meant to be..." I've checked
>a number of sources on the internet trying to determine whether this is a
>legitimate point of grammar or perhaps simply another British English vs
>American English issue, but with no success.

I suppose <g> that the difference could be interpreted as "Others
imagined him to be" vs. "He intended to be" or "He ought to have been".
However, I don't think I've ever come across any clear distinction of
usage.

Signature

Molly Mockford
I think I've been too long on my own, but the little green goblin that
lives under the sink says I'm OK - and he's never wrong, so I must be!
(My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.)

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Larry Cooper - 22 Oct 2004 22:32 GMT

> At 05:22:13 on Fri, 22 Oct 2004, Larry Cooper <lcooper@ix.netcom.com>
> wrote in <9O0ed.3910$%h1.937@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net>:
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> However, I don't think I've ever come across any clear distinction of
> usage.

My own interpretation was that "supposed to be" was being interpreted as
""thought to be", while "meant to be" was more along the line of "ought to
be." In the US, it is common for a parent to say to a child, "You're
supposed to be doing your homework" if the child is caught watching
television. Would an English parent say "You're meant to be doing your
homework"?

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Peter Duncanson - 23 Oct 2004 12:20 GMT

>> At 05:22:13 on Fri, 22 Oct 2004, Larry Cooper <lcooper@ix.netcom.com>
>> wrote in <9O0ed.3910$%h1.937@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net>:
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>supposed to be doing your homework" if the child is caught watching
>television. Would an English parent say ?

This would depend on the normal habits of speech of the parents.

If the child has previously stated the intention of doing homework then
"You're supposed to be doing your homework" seems a likely form of words for
an English (or UK) parent. "You're meant to be doing your homework" is also
possible.

However, there are various more colloquial forms, based on sarcasm or irony,
that might be used. For instance: "You've finished your homework then?"

Signature

Peter Duncanson
UK
(posting from u.c.l.e)

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Discussion Groups / British English / October 2004

Supposed vs Meant