Semantic difference between: "should have" and "was supposed to"? - English + Corresponding German Translation?

I have a good idea already, but a fellow student and I got into a bit of argument about the exact difference in meaning, specifically in regards to whether these two phrases correspond directly in German to "h盲tte sollen" and "sollte", respectively.



I'm looking for answers from people who know what they are talking about. If you're not sure that your answer is correct or don't understand the question, don't answer!Semantic difference between: "should have" and "was supposed to"? - English + Corresponding German Translation?
He was supposed to - he had a duty or obligation to do something.

He should have - it would have been advisable if he had done something.



Er sollte das machen. He should have done that.

Er h盲tte das gemacht sollen. He was supposed to have done that.



Frankly, most of what I have heard in 9 years living in Germany with my German husband and our 3 children, is the 1st construction. The 2nd, you'll find in newspapers and official paperwork. People look at me like a freak when I use the 2nd construction. It is apparently no longer considered "modern."



The fine difference in meaning of both English and German has been by and large lost. Most people will think that these two sentences mean the same thing in both languages.



Edit: Sollte is simple past. Should have. Soll is present. Should.



Sie soll einkaufen gehen. She should go shopping.



More classes are indicated for you.Semantic difference between: "should have" and "was supposed to"? - English + Corresponding German Translation?
interesting - 'sollte' is the present form of 'h盲tte sollen' and corresponds to 'should have' and in its past 'should have had/done etc' AND 'was supposed to' with its meaning of obligation, though it can be used almost interchangeably.



Some examples:



He was supposed to turn of the water (he should have looked after that particular task, now we have a flood); Er h盲tte das Wasser abdrehen sollen (er h盲tte nach dem Wasser schauen m眉ssen, das war sein Job, nun haben wir eine 脺berschwemmung).



Er h盲tte das Wasser abdrehen m眉ssen would translate as 鈥榟e should have turned off the water鈥?but could just as well mean 鈥榟e was supposed to鈥?



Sie sollte noch ihre Hausarbeiten machen, dann kann sie spielen gehen (she should do her homework, then she can go and play) / Sie h盲tte noch ihre Hausarbeiten machen sollen, aber sie ist schon spielen gegangen (she should have done her homework, but she already went playing). In the latter you could say, in English, she was supposed to to her homework but she already went out playing...



Sie sollte noch einkaufen gehen 鈥?sie h盲tte noch einkaufen gehen sollen (she should go shopping...because some friends wish to come over for dinner... 鈥?she should have shopped...before the arrival of her friends, now it is too late).