Should vs. Was Supposed

Attribute	Should	Was Supposed
Expectation	What is expected or considered correct	What was intended or planned
Responsibility	Something that one ought to do	Something that was assigned or designated
Outcome	The desired result or consequence	The intended result or consequence
Future tense	Used to indicate obligation or necessity	Used to indicate an expectation or intention

Definition

Should and was supposed are both modal verbs that are used to express obligation, expectation, or necessity in English. However, they are used in slightly different contexts and have different nuances in meaning.

Usage of Should

The modal verb "should" is used to give advice, make recommendations, or talk about what is generally expected or considered the right thing to do. It can also be used to express probability or likelihood. For example, "You should eat more vegetables for better health" or "It should rain later today."

Usage of Was Supposed

On the other hand, the phrase "was supposed" is used to talk about something that was expected or intended to happen in the past, but did not actually happen. It is often used to express disappointment or surprise. For example, "I was supposed to meet my friend for lunch, but she never showed up."

Expressing Obligation

When it comes to expressing obligation, "should" is used to suggest that something is the right thing to do, but there is still a choice involved. For example, "You should apologize for your mistake." On the other hand, "was supposed" implies a stronger sense of obligation or expectation that was not met. For example, "I was supposed to finish my homework before going out."

Expressing Expectation

Both "should" and "was supposed" can be used to express expectation, but in slightly different ways. "Should" is used to talk about what is expected or considered normal, while "was supposed" is used to talk about what was specifically expected in a given situation. For example, "You should arrive on time for the meeting" versus "I was supposed to receive a promotion this year."

Degree of Certainty

When it comes to the degree of certainty, "should" is often used to express a higher level of probability or likelihood compared to "was supposed." For example, "He should be at home by now" suggests a higher level of certainty than "He was supposed to be at home by now."

Regret and Disappointment

One of the key differences between "should" and "was supposed" is the emotional tone they convey. "Should" is more neutral and focuses on what is the right or expected action, while "was supposed" often conveys a sense of regret or disappointment about something that did not happen as expected. For example, "I should have studied more for the exam" versus "I was supposed to pass the exam."

Conclusion

In conclusion, while both "should" and "was supposed" are modal verbs used to express obligation, expectation, or necessity, they have distinct differences in terms of usage, meaning, and emotional tone. Understanding these differences can help you use them more effectively in your writing and communication.