они должны были

they were supposed to

→ они
phrase Uncommon #19,479
they were supposed to Used with an infinitive to express an obligation or expectation in the past. Related forms include должны быть, “they must be,” and должен быть, “he/it must be.”
RU: Они должны были позвонить вчера.
EN: They were supposed to call yesterday.

Они должны были заплатить мне за то, что я сломал его.

They were supposed to pay me for breaking it.

— Солнечные понедельники (2002)

Они должны были поговорить с тем, кто разговаривал с Айртоном Сенна.

They were supposed to talk to the person who had spoken to Ayrton Senna.

— Сенна (2010)

Они должны были пригласить тебя поработать на этой свадьбе.

They should have invited you to work at this wedding.

— Реальная любовь (2003)

Они должны были это предвидеть.

They should have seen it coming.

И они должны были сделать то же самое через меня.

And they were supposed to do the same thing through me.

— Сенна (2010)

phrase Rare #31,768
they were supposed to Used for a past obligation, expectation, or intended action. Depending on context, it can also mean “they had to.”
RU: Они должны были встретиться у входа.
EN: They were supposed to meet at the entrance.

Они должны были приехать вчера.

They were supposed to arrive yesterday.

Какие они должны были дать показания?

What testimony were they supposed to give?

— Несколько хороших парней (1992)

Женщина, которой они должны были позвонить, ушла.

The woman they were supposed to call has left.

Они должны были прибыть сегодня.

They were supposed to arrive today.

— На Западном фронте без перемен (2022)