“be supposed to / about to / likely to”

這幾個短語句型相同：be + supposed / about / likely / due / bound + to + 動詞原形。be 隨主語和時態變化（am / is / are / was / were）；否定式在 be 後面加 not。

💡語速快時，“supposed to” 聽起來像 /səˈpəʊs tə/——d 幾乎聽不見，所以學習者常寫成 “suppose to”。書面上永遠寫 supposed（帶 -d）。

1. 規定以及別人期望你做的事——常暗示人們並不總是照做

• You're supposed to wear a helmet on a motorbike.

  騎摩托車應該戴頭盔。

• We're not supposed to use our phones in class.

  上課時我們不應該用手機。（= 不允許）

2. 計劃和安排——常用於事情沒有按計劃進行的時候；was / were supposed to = 原本是這麼計劃的，但沒有實現

• The bus is supposed to come every ten minutes, but I've been waiting for half an hour.

  這趟公交車按說每十分鐘一班，可我已經等了半個小時了。

• I was supposed to meet Lan at six, but I forgot.

  我本來六點要和阿蘭見面的，但我忘了。

3. 人們的說法或看法

• This café is supposed to have the best egg coffee in Hanoi.

  據說這家咖啡館的雞蛋咖啡是河內最好喝的。

• The new film is supposed to be really good.

  聽說那部新電影特別好看。

be meant to 和 be supposed to 意思相近（規定、用途），在英式英語中很常用：You're not meant to park here. This app is meant to save you time.

should = 建議或說話人自己的看法。be supposed to = 來自外部的規定或期望，常暗示實際情況並非如此。批評沒做的事，用 should have + V3（見“情態動詞 + have + V3”一課）。

• You should try the egg coffee — it's great.

  你應該嚐嚐雞蛋咖啡——特別好喝。（我的看法）

• You're supposed to pay before you eat here.

  在這裡要先付錢再吃。（店裡的規定）

• I was supposed to call my mum last night.

  我昨晚本該給我媽打電話的。（我答應了，但沒打）

💡想說某事原本有計劃或預期、但沒有發生時，was / were supposed to 往往是最自然的說法（相當於中文的“本來應該”“原定”）：The flight was supposed to leave at 8。

be about to = 某事馬上就要發生，幾秒或幾分鐘之內。它通常不和時間狀語連用（不說 about to … tomorrow）。was / were about to = 正要做某事時，發生了別的事。

• Hurry up! The doors are about to close.

  快點！門馬上就要關了。

• I'm just about to have lunch. Can I call you back?

  我正要吃午飯，待會兒給你回電話行嗎？

• I was about to go to bed when the phone rang.

  我正要上床睡覺，電話響了。

• be likely to = 很可能會發生；否定：be unlikely to 或 not likely to。美式英語也常說 “He'll likely win”；英式英語更喜歡說 “He's likely to win” 或 “He'll probably win”。
• be due to + 動詞 = 按計劃在某個時間。不要和 due to + 名詞（= 因為）搞混：The game was cancelled due to the rain。
• be bound to = 一定會發生（說話人的看法）。

• Traffic is likely to be bad this evening.

  今晚交通很可能會很堵。

• She's unlikely to change her mind.

  她不太可能改變主意。

• The new bridge is due to open in May.

  新橋預計五月通車。

• Don't lend him money. He's bound to forget to pay you back.

  別借錢給他，他肯定會忘了還你。

• ✗You are not suppose to park here.

  ✓You are not supposed to park here.

  supposed 永遠要寫 -d。

• ✗We supposed to meet at six yesterday.

  ✓We were supposed to meet at six yesterday.

  需要 be（這裡是過去時：were）。

• ✗You don't supposed to smoke here.

  ✓You aren't supposed to smoke here.

  否定式用 be + not，不用 don't。

• ✗The film is about to starting.

  ✓The film is about to start.

  about to 後面用動詞原形。

• ✗He is likely win.

  ✓He is likely to win.

  不要漏掉 to。

• ✗I'm about to visit Hue next year.

  ✓I'm going to visit Hue next year.

  About to 用於很近的將來，不用於很久以後的計劃。