# Suppose vs. Supposed. Correct usage question. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-vs-supposed-correct-usage-question/456746 "2008-07-16T21:10:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rostfrei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7bcc69/32.png) [@rostfrei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rostfrei)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-vs-supposed-correct-usage-question/456746/1 "2008-07-16T21:10:04Z")
I always thought I knew the difference between suppose and supposed, but over the past few years I am starting to doubt myself. Especially after I got an e-mail from our department manager today in which she said ‘those who are suppose to start work at 8am…blah blah’ Which is correct? I am suppose to go to Hawaii tomorrow. or I am supposed to go to Hawaii tomorrow. I say is the 2nd one, but I have come across so many examples of it being used the other way, that I’m doubting my education. Eric ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-vs-supposed-correct-usage-question/456746/2 "2008-07-16T21:14:23Z")
I suppose I am supposed to go to Hawaii tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-vs-supposed-correct-usage-question/456746/3 "2008-07-16T21:17:00Z")
[Joey]I’ll go to Hawaii tomorrow…supposably![/Joey] ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-vs-supposed-correct-usage-question/456746/4 "2008-07-16T21:18:26Z")
Suppose = think, believe Supposed = (perceived to be) obligated At least, that’s how I’ve always used the two. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-vs-supposed-correct-usage-question/456746/5 "2008-07-16T21:18:39Z")
‘Suppose’ is a conjugation of the verb ‘to suppose’. I have seen this as well and it drives me batty! ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-vs-supposed-correct-usage-question/456746/6 "2008-07-16T21:38:13Z")
[QUOTE=rostfrei] I am suppose to go to Hawaii tomorrow. or I am supposed to go to Hawaii tomorrow. [/QUOTE] The first one is simply flat-out wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-vs-supposed-correct-usage-question/456746/7 "2008-07-16T21:42:04Z")
[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] The first one is simply flat-out wrong. [/QUOTE] But if enough people use it, the point is mute. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-vs-supposed-correct-usage-question/456746/8 "2008-07-16T21:43:34Z")
[QUOTE=Ludovic] But if enough people use it, the point is **mute**. [/QUOTE] That’s just evil. Why would you want to be evil? ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-vs-supposed-correct-usage-question/456746/9 "2008-07-16T21:50:38Z")
[QUOTE=Ludovic] But if enough people use it, the point is mute. [/QUOTE] The problem remains that many people will be bemused by the whole issue. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-vs-supposed-correct-usage-question/456746/10 "2008-07-16T21:54:58Z")
“Supposed” is the past participle of the verb “suppose”. Let’s ry some other verbs in the context: I am expect to go to Hawaii tomorrow. I am expected to go to Hawaii tomorrow. I am order to go to Hawaii tomorrow. I am ordered to go to Hawaii tomorrow. I am require to go to Hawaii tomorrow. I am required to go to Hawaii tomorrow. Yes, it should be the past participle. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-vs-supposed-correct-usage-question/456746/11 "2008-07-16T22:02:15Z")
I suppose I shall go to Hawaii I am supposed to go to Hawaii Hawaii is the supposed surfing capital of the world (in this context, it’s pronounced _suppose-ed_) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-vs-supposed-correct-usage-question/456746/12 "2008-07-16T22:47:09Z")
The problem is that when the phrase “supposed to” is spoken, the “d” and the “t” tend to blend together, and it sounds essentially the same as “suppose to.” People who aren’t inclined to pay attention to and think about such details may then write it as the latter without realizing it should be the former.