Lesson Plan: “Seem to,” “Verb to Be + Meant to,” and “Verb to Be + Supposed To” English

Students will be able to

• use “seem to” to talk, in the past and present tenses, about how something or someone appears to be based on an opinion,
• understand that “seem to + be + adjective” and “seem + adjective” are both acceptable forms,
• use “verb to be + meant to” to talk about purpose and expectations in the present and failed purpose or expectations in the past,
• use “meant to” without “be” to talk about a failed intention in the past,
• use “verb to be + supposed to” to talk about expectations and obligations in the present and failed expectations and obligations in the past,
• use the form “be + verb + ing” following “seem to” to talk about an extended activity,
• use the form “be + verb + ing” following “verb to be + supposed to” and “verb to be + meant to” to talk about something that is not happening but should be or that was not happening but should have been.