What's the difference between "be supposed to..." and "have to..."?
Hi, guys

I really don't know how to use exactly "be supposed to..." and "have to..." or "must..." .
Please explain me about their usage as well as situation with the example sentences.
Thank you!!!

For example:
.....
Asako : Well, you "have to" know what "you are supposed to" do, but yeah.
Todd : Well, what do you do?
Asako : You "have to" be really careful with that, and also you "have to" know how "you are supposed to" act when you actually meet a bear when you are hiking, but if you have the right knowledge, you should be OK.
Todd : Wow! So what do you they tell you to do if you see a bear?
Asako : Well, "you're supposed to" wave your hands.
......
Asako : I was in a car, so i didn't have any problems, so I really don' t know what "I am supposed to" do when I meet wolves.

(http://www.elllo.org/english/0801/T809-Asako-Bears.htm)

Question

What's the difference between "be supposed to..." and "have to..."?
Hi, guys

I really don't know how to use exactly "be supposed to..." and "have to..." or "must..." .
Please explain me about their usage as well as situation with the example sentences.
Thank you!!!

For example:
.....
Asako : Well, you "have to" know what "you are supposed to" do, but yeah.
Todd : Well, what do you do?
Asako : You "have to" be really careful with that, and also you "have to" know how "you are supposed to" act when you actually meet a bear when you are hiking, but if you have the right knowledge, you should be OK.
Todd : Wow! So what do you they tell you to do if you see a bear?
Asako : Well, "you're supposed to" wave your hands.
......
Asako : I was in a car, so i didn't have any problems, so I really don' t know what "I am supposed to" do when I meet wolves.

(http://www.elllo.org/english/0801/T809-Asako-Bears.htm)

Answer

'Have to' means that it is necessary for you to do this.

'Supposed to' means that you are expected to do this.

For example, you might say this:

'I'm supposed to stay at work until 5 pm, but I have to go home now. I feel really ill.'

You are 'supposed to' stay until 5 pm because this is what is expected of you, what you have been told to do, or what it says on your contract. This form is often used as a contrast to a different fact, about what you want or have to do. In this case, even though you are supposed to work until 5 pm, you have to/need go home now because you feel too ill to work.

'Must' has a similar meaning to 'have to', but it is less common. It's often used as a stronger form of 'I think you/I/we should...'.

In fact, in spoken English, the commonest use of 'must'  is to indicate certainty, as in 'You must be exhausted'.

Answer

"Be supposed to" has the meaning of "should", as in "be expected to".

I think you already understand the concept of "have to". :)

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