在第15单元里有这样一个句子:

　　You were supposed to die like that. 你本该象那样死去的。

　　句中的were supposed可理解为"本该".其实suppose 的基本意思是"猜想、认为、假定",但在具体的文句中的意义远不止于此,其用法也可以说是"变化多端"。

　　一、suppose+that从句,表"猜测、假定"。如:

　　I suppose (that) he is not yet twenty. 我猜想他还不到20岁。

　　You can suppose A equals B. 你可以假定A等于B。

　　二、suppose+宾语+to be..., 表"认为……是……"。如:

　　Everyone supposes him to be poor, but he is quite wealthy. 大家都认为他穷,但实际上他很阔。

　　Most people suppose him to be over 60. 多数人认为他已经60多岁了。

　　三、suppose 或supposing用作连词,引导一个条件状语从句,表"假使、假定"。如:

　　Suppose he is absent, what shall we do? 假使他不在,我们怎么办?

　　Supposing it rained, we would still go. 纵使下雨,我们还是要走.

　　四、suppose 用于祈使语气,表"让……"。如:

　　Suppose we start(或started)tomorrow. (相当于Let's start tomorrow.) 我们明天动身吧。

　　Suppose we are good friends. 让我们成为好朋友吧。

　　五、be supposed to do (be)..., 表"被期望、应该……",其否定形式为be not supposed to do(be)...。如:

　　Teachers are supposed to treat all the students alike. 老师应该对所有的学生一视同仁。

　　She was not supposed to be angry about that. 她本不该为那件事而生气的。

　　You are not supposed to smoke on the bus. 你可不能在公共汽车上抽烟。

　　(文/黄旦谷； 英语辅导报高二版 03~04学年度第46期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)