11 It is said that... He is said to ... He is supposed to ... Study this example situation: Henry is very old. Nobody knows exactly how old he is, but: It is said that he is 108 years old. or He is said to be 108 years old. Both these sentences mean: 'People say that he is 108 years old.' _ or or or or or thought understood She is said to work 16 hours a day. The boy is believed to be wearing a white pullover and blue jeans. The strike is expected to end soon. He is alleged to have hit a policeman. There is said to be a secret tunnel between them. You can use these structures with a number of other verbs, especially alleged believed considered expected known reported Compare the two structures: □ Cathy works very hard. It is said that she works 16 hours a day. □ The police are looking for a missing boy. It is believed that the boy is wearing a white pullover and blue jeans. □ The strike started three weeks ago. It is expected that it will end soon. □ A friend of mine has been arrested. It is alleged that he hit a policeman. □ The two houses belong to the same family. It is said that there is a secret tunnel between them. These structures are often used in news reports. For example, in a report about an accident □ It is reported that two people were or Two people are reported to have injured in the explosion. been injured in the explosion. (Be) supposed to Sometimes (it is) supposed to ... = (it is) said to ... : □ I want to see that film, It's supposed to be good. (= it is said to be good) □ Mark is supposed to have hit a policeman, but I don't believe it. But sometimes supposed to has a different meaning. We use supposed to to say what is intended, arranged or expected. Often this is different from the real situation: □ The plan is supposed to be a secret, but everybody seems to know about it. (= the plan is intended to be a secret) □ What are you doing at work? You're supposed to be on holiday. (= you arranged to be on holiday) □ Our guests were supposed to come at 7.30, but they were late. □ Jane was supposed to phone me last night, but she didn't. □ I'd better hurry. I'm supposed to be meeting Chris in ten minutes. You're not supposed to do something - it is not allowed or advisable: □ You're not supposed to park your car here. It's private parking only. □ Jeff is much better after his illness, but he's still not supposed to do any heavy work. Exercises Unit 45 45.1 Write these sentences in another way, beginning as shown. Use the underlined word each time. 1 It is expected that the strike will end soon. The strike.....^.....ex£ectecL...to .end joon:................................ 2 It is expected that the weather will be good tomorrow. The weather is..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 It is believed that the thieves got in through a window in the roof. The thieves............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 It is reported that many people are homeless after the floods. Many people.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 It is thought that the prisoner escaped by climbing over a wall. The prisoner........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 It is alleged that the man was driving at 110 miles an hour. The man........................................................................................_............................................................................................................................................ 7 It is reported that the building has been badly damaged by the fire. The building............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8 a It is said that the company is losing a lot of money. The company................................................................................................................................................................................................................ b It is believed that the company lost a lot of money last year. The company................................................................................................................................................................................................................ c It is expected that the company will make a loss this year. The company................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 45.2 There are a lot of rumours about Alan. Here are some of the things people say about him: 1 Q Alan speaks ten languages.^) 2 ^He knows a lot of famous people.^) ? He is very rich. ^ He has twelve ch ildren.^) 5 ( He was an actor when he was younger. Alan Nobody is sure whether these things are true. Write sentences about Alan using supposed to. 1 .....^..^.....^...SMpppsecl ..to J5ge$jc ...ten ..Uuigu ages. 2 He 3 .......... 4 .......... 5 .......... 45.3 Complete the sentences using supposed to be + the following: on a diet a flower my friend a joke a secret working 1 Everybody seems to know about the plan, but it.....k.„SMms*4J£j>±A.S^L 2 You shouldn't criticise me all the time. You..................................................................................................... 3 I shouldn't be eating this cake really. I................................................................................................................... 4 I'm sorry for what I said. I was trying to be funny. It........................................................................... 5 What's this drawing? Is it a tree? Or maybe it.............................................................................................. 6 You shouldn't be reading the paper now. You................................................................................................ 45.4 Write sentences with supposed to + the following verbs: arrive block park phone start 90 Use the negative (not supposed to) where necessary. 1 You ,te HQfe ?W»*f4r fr Wfl.....here. It's private parking only. 2 We...........................................................................................................work at 8.15, but we rarely do anything before 8.30. 3 Oh, I...........................................................................................................Helen, but I completely forgot. 4 This door is a fire exit. You...........................................................................................................it. 5 My train...........................................................................................................at 11.30, but it was an hour late. Additional exercises 22-24 (pages 314-15) 91