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〜はずだった

was supposed to, should have

Plain form + はずだった / はずじゃなかった

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はずだった is the past of はず (N4): something was expected, but didn't happen as planned. 電車は九時に着くはずだった, "the train was supposed to arrive at nine".

It often continues with のに or が to say what actually happened: 彼も来るはずだったのに、来なかった, "he was supposed to come too, but he didn't".

はずじゃなかった means "it wasn't supposed to be like this": こんなはずじゃなかった, a common sigh of disappointment.

Compare つもりだった, which is what someone intended, and ところだった, "nearly". はずだった is about what should have happened, based on plans or reasoning.

Examples

  • 電車でんしゃは九時くじに着つくはずだった。

    The train was supposed to arrive at nine.

  • 今日きょうは彼かれも来くるはずだったのに、来こなかった。

    He was supposed to come today too, but he didn't.

  • こんなはずじゃなかった。

    This isn't how it was supposed to go.

  • 計画けいかくでは、もう終おわっているはずだった。

    According to the plan, it should have been finished by now.

  • 鍵かぎはかばんに入いれたはずだったのに、ない。

    I was sure I'd put the key in my bag, but it's not there.

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