what is the difference between'' no te esperas '' and ''no esperas''?

Question

what is the difference between'' no te esperas '' and ''no esperas''?

Answer 1

Hmmm!

You asked: "What is the difference between'' no te esperas '' and ''no esperas''?

When looking in my dictionary I don't see that there is a verb "esperarse", there is only the verb "esperar". This would imply that the "te" is not a reflexive object pronoun.

Esperar = to wait for, to wait, to hope, to expect

Esperas = 2nd person singular familiar/informal conjugation of the verb esperar = you wait, you wait for, you hope, you expect

"te" = you (familiar/informal) direct object pronoun, indirect object pronoun or reflexive object pronoun

Using "te" would seem to be saying: "you wait for you" or "you hope for you" or "you expect for you", none of which makes much sense to me.

Bottom line, I don't understand how "te" can be used in the phrase "no te esperas".

Can you provide some context for the expression "no te esperas"?

This is what I thought too, but I'm only a beginner so I thought I would keep quiet :P. - --Jen--, JUN 8, 2010

Answer 2

We do however say in the imperative case, at least in Mexico, Espérate, Espérese, etc for, Wait!

Answer 3

I don't think this can be an "imperative/command" because it's not the correct conjugation for any of the "you" imperatives/commands. I think it's a statement such as: "you don't wait, you don't expect or you don't hope". - Pajaro44

IMPERATIVO espera (tú) / esperá (vos) esperad (vosotros) / esperen (ustedes)

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Hi Julian, I'm not sure if you are agreeing or disagreeing with my comment that you highlighted. It looks, to me, like you are agreeing. Would you please verify this? - Pajaro44, JUN 8, 2010

"Esperar" can be imperative. - 005faa61, JUN 8, 2010

Answer 4

No esperas = Don't wait.

I don't think this can be an "imperative/command" because it's not the correct conjugation for any of the "you" imperatives/commands. I think it's a statement such as: "you don't wait, you don't expect or you don't hope". - Pajaro44, JUN 8, 2010

Answer 5

My dictionary says,

Esperar - to wait Esperarse - to expect

So "no te esperas" = You don't expect, and "no esperas" is "You aren't waiting"...I think....

But those are the verbs.