má byť / má + Infinitive

Supposed to and Said to Be

Level 5

Má + infinitive passes on information from someone else: a forecast, a timetable, a plan or a rumour. Mal + infinitive does the same for the past: Mal sa skrývať u príbuzných (He was reportedly hiding with relatives).

How It Works

Beyond supposed to. The basic mať + infinitive says what someone should do. At this level it also reports information that comes from somewhere else:

  • Forecasts and timetables: Zajtra má pršať. (It's supposed to rain tomorrow.) Koncert sa má začať o ôsmej. (The concert is due to start at eight.)
  • Plans: Nový most má byť hotový do konca roka. (The new bridge is supposed to be finished by the end of the year.)
  • Hearsay: Má byť veľmi bohatý. (He is said to be very rich.) Ten film má byť výborný. (That film is supposed to be excellent.)

In the past. News reports use mal + infinitive for a claim nobody has confirmed: Podozrivý sa mal skrývať u príbuzných. (The suspect was reportedly hiding with relatives.) The same idea can be said with vraj or údajne.

Agreement. Mať agrees with the subject: Tí herci majú byť slávni. With weather, the verb is impersonal and stays in the third person singular: Zajtra má snežiť.

Má byť or mal by byť? Má byť bohatý passes on what others say. Mal by byť bohatý is your own guess or expectation: he should be rich (I suppose). For a stronger conclusion of your own, see must and may for likelihood.

Examples (6)

  1. Zajtra má pršať.

    It's supposed to rain tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Tomorrow has to-rain.

  2. Má byť veľmi bohatý.

    He's said to be very rich.

    Word by Word: He-has to-be very rich.

  3. Koncert sa má začať o ôsmej.

    The concert is due to start at eight.

    Word by Word: Concert self has to-start at eighth.

  4. Nový most má byť hotový do konca roka.

    The new bridge is supposed to be finished by the end of the year.

    Word by Word: New bridge has to-be finished by end of-year.

  5. Ten film má byť výborný.

    That film is supposed to be excellent.

    Word by Word: That film has to-be excellent.

  6. Podozrivý sa mal skrývať u príbuzných.

    The suspect was reportedly hiding with relatives.

    Word by Word: Suspect self had to-hide at relatives.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a finite verb after má.

    Zajtra má prší.
    Zajtra má pršať.

    After má the second verb must be an infinitive: pršať.

  • Not making mať agree with a plural subject.

    Tí herci má byť slávni.
    Tí herci majú byť slávni.

    Mať agrees with the subject, so a plural subject needs majú.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

má byť / má + InfinitiveLevel 5Supposed to and Said to Be

Learn This First

Before Supposed To and Said To Be, learn Supposed To: mať. má + infinitive extends mať + infinitive.

Words in This Pattern