EnglishNEB 2080 (old course)

Change the following remarks using 'supposed to': a. People say he is a heavy drinker. [1] b. They are worth five billion dollars. [1] c. Apparently it is unlucky to walk under a ladder. [1]

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HeadingModel Answer: Changing Remarks Using 'Supposed To'
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a. **People say he is a heavy drinker.** → **He is supposed to be a heavy drinker.** *Explanation*: The sentence is transformed using 'supposed to' to indicate a common belief or assumption about someone's behavior. The original sentence is a passive statement of opinion, while the revised version conveys that it is widely believed or expected that he drinks heavily.

b. **They are worth five billion dollars.** → **They are supposed to be worth five billion dollars.** *Explanation*: Here, 'supposed to' is used to express an assumption or estimation about the value of something. The original sentence states a fact, while the revised version suggests that it is generally assumed or estimated that their worth is five billion dollars.

c. **Apparently it is unlucky to walk under a ladder.** → **It is supposed to be unlucky to walk under a ladder.** *Explanation*: The original sentence uses 'apparently' to indicate a widely accepted belief or superstition. The revised version replaces 'apparently' with 'supposed to,' which conveys the same idea—that it is commonly believed or considered unlucky to walk under a ladder.

### Key Observations: - **Structure**: The transformation follows the pattern: **Subject + is/are + supposed to + verb (in base form)**. - **Meaning**: 'Supposed to' implies a general belief, assumption, or expectation, often based on common knowledge or tradition. - **Usage**: This structure is commonly used in informal and formal contexts to express widely held opinions or expectations

### Additional Examples for Clarity: - Original: *Rumors say he will win the election.* Revised: *He is supposed to win the election.* - Original: *The book claims she is a genius.* Revised: *She is supposed to be a genius.* - Original: *It is said that the exam is very difficult.* Revised: *The exam is supposed to be very difficult.*

### Common Mistakes to Avoid: - **Incorrect verb form**: Ensure the verb after 'supposed to' is in its base form (e.g., *to be*, *to drink*, not *is drinking* or *was drinking*). - **Overuse of 'supposed to'**: This structure should be used for assumptions or beliefs, not for definite facts. For example, avoid using it for confirmed information like *The Earth is supposed to be round* (since

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