Esperar

[Perikles]

I always have trouble with esperar because the meaning can vary. to wait for, to await, to expect, to hope. In English, there is a big difference between

I hope the weather will be nice tomorrow (because I want to go out)
I expect the weather will be nice tomorrow (because the weather forecast said so. Actually, I don't care)

How can you express hope rather than expectation using esperar?

[bobjenkins]

Originally Posted by Perikles

I always have trouble with esperar because the meaning can vary. to wait for, to await, to expect, to hope. In English, there is a big difference between

I hope the weather will be nice tomorrow (because I want to go out)
I expect the weather will be nice tomorrow (because the weather forecast said so. Actually, I don't care)

How can you express hope rather than expectation using esperar?

Quizás al usar el subjuntivo con esperar signifique to hope. Mientras esperar sin él solo significa to expect.

[pjt33]

No es tan fácil como espera Bob. El ejemplo del DRAE para "expect" (creer que ha de suceder algo, especialmente si es favorable) usa el subjuntivo: espero que llueva. Es cuestión de contexto, nada más.

[sosia]

Estoy con pjt33, es cuestión de contexto.
I hope the weather will be nice tomorrow (because I want to go out)
Espero que manaña no llueva (porque tengo una boda)
I expect the weather will be nice tomorrow (because the weather forecast said so. Actually, I don't care)
Espero que mañana no llueva, así lo han dicho en las noticias

If you want to give a "personal" touch, you can use "gustar" con "hope"
Me gustaría que mañana hiciese buen tiempo
and "deber" con "expect"
Mañana no debería llover, según han dicho en las noticias.
Saludos
otros usos por contexto:
Espero que él haya recibido mi regalo.
Espero cortesía por parte de los jóvenes.
Espero que nadie me llame a las 2 de la mañana para molestarme.
Espero que ya hayan cursado mi pedido
Espero que a mi mujer le haya ido bien la entrevista
espero que para entonces se hayan solucionado los problemas

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by sosia

otros usos por contexto:
Espero que él haya recibido mi regalo.
Espero cortesía por parte de los jóvenes.
Espero que nadie me llame a las 2 de la mañana para molestarme.
Espero que ya hayan cursado mi pedido
Espero que a mi mujer le haya ido bien la entrevista
espero que para entonces se hayan solucionado los problemas

Thanks . All these examples can have two different meanings (except the negative Espero que nadie me llame....). Am I correct in saying that without the context, none of these can be translated accurately?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Perikles

I always have trouble with esperar because the meaning can vary. to wait for, to await, to expect, to hope. In English, there is a big difference between

I hope the weather will be nice tomorrow (because I want to go out)
I expect the weather will be nice tomorrow (because the weather forecast said so. Actually, I don't care)

How can you express hope rather than expectation using esperar?

Are you sure it is used like that? Can you use another example?

If you do not care, why would you hope, expect, wait or whatever...?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by chileno

Are you sure it is used like that? Can you use another example?

If you do not care, why would you hope, expect, wait or whatever...?

OK - I could say

I expect my mother-in-law will visit us on Sunday

(because she has nothing else to do on that day).

In this case, I do not want her to come, but I suppose that she will come.

Do I still use espero ? If I do, how can I say it without it meaning

I hope my mother-in-law will visit us on Sunday

How many people would ever want to mean that?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Perikles

OK - I could say

I expect my mother-in-law will visit us on Sunday

(because she has nothing else to do on that day).

In this case, I do not want her to come, but I suppose that she will come.

Do I still use espero ? If I do, how can I say it without it meaning

I hope my mother-in-law will visit us on Sunday

How many people would ever want to mean that?

Ok, got it. And yes we use espero...

In the case of I expect we would say: estoy esperando por mi suegra...que llegue a casa etc...

In the case of I hope : Espero que que mi suegra nos visite hoy...

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by chileno

Ok, got it. And yes we use espero...

In the case of I expect we would say: estoy esperando por mi suegra...que llegue a casa etc...

In the case of I hope : Espero que que mi suegra nos visite hoy...

Thanks chileno - I see a difference

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by Perikles

If I do, how can I say it without it meaning

I hope my mother-in-law will visit us on Sunday

How many people would ever want to mean that?

Depends how good she is at cooking, DIY, etc...