Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[berkeleyenglish]

Hi!

I'm in the United States for one year. I really want to learn to speak English well, and I am trying to learn as many idioms as I can. Recently I have been studying "must" and "have to." I think I understand these two expressions, but now I have discovered "supposed to" as well. I don't understand when I should use this expression. Is it the same as "have to"?

If I say "I have to study every night" and "I am supposed to study every night" are these sentences identical? What does "This movie is supposed to be good" mean? One of my American friends said that the other night, and he couldn't explain it very well. Does it mean "This movie must be good. I am sure that it is good"?

Thanks for your help. I hope I haven't made too many mistakes in this message.

[iitimone7]

...presumed to be true or real without conclusive evidence.
(it is similar to should...there's no evidence for that word, either)

iitimone7

[tri]

What am I supposed to do? - What should I do? - What do i do?
the same meaning

[stellara]

"What am I supposed to do" has the same meaning as "What should I do" i think. "supposed to" expresses what other people expect you to do (or else, expect something to be, something to happen.....), as in "you're supposed to pass this exam", because your parents expect you to do so (maybe because they just know you're good enough to pass it or because they ~force you to pass it)

"what do I do" is different, it expresses what you actually, really do. for example, you read a book at the moment but you should do homework --> "What do you do?" - read a book, "What are you supposed to do?" - do homework.

clear?
greets
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[tri]

Stellera, I dont think so It�s 'What are you doing?' - 'I�m reading a book.'
When you hear someone say 'What do I do now?!' the person is sort of procrastinating..he/she doesnt know what to do..

[stellara]

ah, okay, i misunderstood you i thought you meant "What do i do" as another form of "What am I doing". wtih the "now" it's clear, though!

but i believe, though, that "What do I do now" has not exactly the same meaning as "What am i supposed to do". because the second implicits an expectation of other people, too, (as long I wasn't wrong there too ) and the first one is more the own decision, the own will (which doesn't mean that you couldn't have to do something, but it then involves not necessarily the opinions and expectations of other people).

now okay?
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[tri]

It sure has the same meaning..you can hear actors say '*beep*. What do I do?!?' which means something like '*beep*. What now?!?'

[stellara]

yeah, if you see it like that, you're absolutely right! It has many meanings, just depending on the context..can be very confusing, i think

and there's the old *beep* problem again it's so totally unnecessary and senseless...


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[tri]

I know! I hate being censored! lol

[stellara]

and i'm sure it was a really really dirty word... tststssss *shame on you*
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[tri]

haha lol i'm so ashamed now

[stellara]

_________________
Don't cry because it's over - smile because it happened!

MOKEY ROCKS!!!