Weekend Subjunctive Practice 7: Esperar que

Question

¡Bienvenido a nuestro hilo! Each weekend, Cordobesa and I will present a different topic on everybody’s favorite subject… the subjunctive!

We will give an explanation of the topic, and a couple of examples.

Write sentences at least 5 words long. Write your Spanish sentence, and include the English translation as well. Make the corrections suggested by Cordobesa in the comments section. Use your own words! (Don't use a translator, copy from a book, use song lyrics, etc.)

Post pictures if you’d like, and don’t forget to vote on the sentences you like best. The winner will be chosen based upon the correct use of the topic as well as the number of votes.

¡Vamos allá!

Weekend Subjunctive Practice 7: Esperar que

To hope that...

Explanation:

Just like after “querer que”, from Weekend Subjunctive Practice 4, when you have a change of subject, the subjunctive follows "esperar que" which literally translates to “to hope that". In the first example below, “I” am the one that hopes that “you all” get home safe and sound. In the second example, “I” am the one that hoped that “we” could wash the car today.

Examples:

Espero que lleguéis a vuestra casa sanos y salvos.

Literal translation: I hope that you arrive to your house safe and sound.

Actual translation: I hope you get home safe and sound.

Esperaba que pudiésemos lavar el coche hoy, pero parece que va a llover.

I hoped that we could wash the car today, but it looks like it’s going to rain.

¡Prestad atención!

If there is not a change of subject, the conjugated form of “esperar” is followed by the infinitive. In the following example, “I" am the one that hopes that “I” sleep well tonight.

Example:

Espero poder dormir muy bien esta noche.

I hope to be able to sleep very well tonight. -or- I hope I can sleep very well tonight.

¿Entendéis la diferencia? ¡Espero que sí!

¡Os toca a vosotros!

Click here for last weekend’s subjunctive practice: aunque

Question: In the example about washing the car, the fact that it's going to rain doesn't have anything to do with the subjects? So the keys to the subjunctive are "I" and "we"? - bandit51jd, Dec 20, 2014

Muchas gracias amigos. :):) - rac1, Dec 20, 2014

Whether it rains or not doesn't matter. Here it is because "I" hoped that "we" could do something... so yes, the change of subject is the key. - Tosh, Dec 20, 2014

Gracias, Tosh! - bandit51jd, Dec 20, 2014

I hoped to be able to wash the car yesterday. (no subject change) = Esperaba poder lavar el coche ayer. - Tosh, Dec 20, 2014

Question: I'm a little confused on "Espero poder dormir....." versus Bibi's "Espero que te.....". I thought in English "that" is understood so "que" is necessary. Are you not using "que" because there are three verbs in a row? I'm a little confused! :) - bandit51jd, Dec 20, 2014

Oops, I may be getting off subject, lo siento! - bandit51jd, Dec 20, 2014

"que" is required in Spanish when you change a subject. Quiero que... Espero que..., etc. If you say "I want to prepare dinner", you don't use "que" - Quiero preparar la cena. Same with "I hope" - Espero ir a España pronto. - Tosh, Dec 20, 2014

But "I hope (that) you come to the United States soon" = Espero que vengas a Estados Unidos pronto." - Tosh, Dec 20, 2014

Always a great learning opportunity. - katydew, Dec 20, 2014

Thanks to you both. My sentence is true and explains why I'm a little late joining the thread. - annierats, Dec 21, 2014

Answer 1

Mi suegro murió ayer. Espero que ya en paz descanse.

My father-in-law died yesterday. I hope he may now rest in peace.

Lo siento, annierats. - AnnRon, Dec 21, 2014

Tenía 96 años, Ann y los últimos años ha sufrido mucho. - annierats, Dec 21, 2014

I'm so sorry, Annie. I'm glad he isn't suffering now though. - rac1, Dec 21, 2014

So am I. rac. He was a very nice man, but the last 4 years have been 4 years that seemed pointless, deaf and blind.. - annierats, Dec 21, 2014

Lo siento... :( - Tosh, Dec 21, 2014

Gracias, Tosh. - annierats, Dec 21, 2014

Lo siento mucho, Annie. - Cordobesa, Dec 21, 2014

La mejor respuesta, pero obviamente, no porque me guste. - Tosh, Dec 24, 2014

Gracias, Tosh. - annierats, Jan 21, 2015

Answer 2

She hopes that her aunt will stop by for Christmas.

Espera que su tía se pase para la Navidad.

I saw the future was se pasare but thought that the future tense of the subjunctive is the one never used anymore. Is that right? - katydew, Dec 20, 2014

Sí, tienes razón, mucho mejor así, con "pase". :)) - Cordobesa, Dec 21, 2014

Thanks Cordobesa. - katydew, Dec 21, 2014

:) - Cordobesa, Dec 21, 2014

Answer 3

Espero que podamos hablar pronto.

I hope we can talk soon.

¡Muy bien! :) - Cordobesa, Dec 20, 2014

Answer 4

¡Espero que te mejores pronto!

I hope you get better soon!

Answer 5

Espero que venga a la fiesta de Navidad.

I hope he comes to the Christmas party.

En esta frase tienes dos opciones: Si estás hablando a alguien de usted, "venga" está bien. Si quieres usar la forma de "tú", tendrías que cambiarlo. ;) - Cordobesa, Dec 21, 2014

Cordobesa, it is great t o have your corrections!I wouldnot have noticed.. - annierats, Dec 21, 2014

Thanks Bibi. I changed it around. I forgot to change the Spanish as well. - rac1, Dec 21, 2014

:)) - Cordobesa, Dec 21, 2014

Answer 6

Ella espera recibir un regalo especial en la fiesta, y espera que nadie de sus parientes tome demasiado y comience una pelea.

She hopes to receive a special present at the party, and she hopes that none of her relatives drink too much and start a fight.

Muy bien. Solo tienes que quitar el "no". En este caso no necesitas la doble negativa porque "nadie" va delante del verbo "tome". Por ejemplo, yo diría "espera que nadie tome demasiado" o "espera que no tome demasiado nadie". También puedes usar "ninguno" - Cordobesa, Dec 21, 2014

Gracias. Me gusta mucho este ejercicio! - jennysk, Dec 22, 2014

Gracias a vosotros por participar. :)) - Cordobesa, Dec 22, 2014

Answer 7

I hope it will snow on Christmas Day. And I hope I get a lot of presents. Ho, ho, ho!

Espero que nieve el día de Navidad. Y espero recibir muchos regalos.

Yo también, pero aquí es difícil que nieve, jeje. :)) - Cordobesa, Dec 21, 2014

Answer 8

Espero que a mi esposa le guste por lo menos la mayoría de los regalos que le he comprado para Navidad, y espero llevarla a unos algunos restaurantes para la comida comer sin que ella añada demasiados otros lugares a los que quiera ir mientras estemos fuera de casa la semana después de Navidad, cuando yo esté de vacaciones.

I hope that my wife likes at least most of the presents that I have bought her for Christmas, and I hope to be able to take her to some restaurants for lunch without her adding too many other places that she wants to go when we are out and about the week after Christmas, when I am on vacation.

"...llevarla a algunos restaurantes para comer... a los que quiera..." :) - Cordobesa, Dec 21, 2014

Gracis, Cordobesa. :) - bosquederoble, Dec 21, 2014

:) - Cordobesa, Dec 21, 2014

You actually buy her presents? My husband just says maybe we can visit the sales after Christmas.. - annierats, Dec 21, 2014

Then I buy a present which I give to him, in the hope he might manage to wra it up and give it to me.. - annierats, Dec 21, 2014

I have 24 presents for her, but most have more than 1 thing in them. Plus I do her stocking. :) - bosquederoble, Dec 21, 2014

You sound like a wonderful husband, Bosque. - rac1, Dec 22, 2014

Answer 9

Espera a que me vaya a crecer,¡ qué bien jugaremos juntos !

Wait for me to go to grow, how well shall we play together!

Un poco más simple: "Espera que crezca" :) - Cordobesa, Dec 21, 2014

Gracias Cordobesa - porcupine7, Dec 21, 2014

De nada. :) - Cordobesa, Dec 21, 2014

Answer 10

Espero poder cocinar la cena esta noche porque me encanta los espaguetis y la salsa!

I hope I can cook dinner tonight because I love spaghetti and sauce!

Very good! You could also say "Espero poder preparar la cena...". Another tiny error with "me encanta". I'll let you find it. :) - Tosh, Dec 20, 2014

I like your way of letting the poster try to find the error, Tosh. It gives me a chance to look for it too. Good way to learn! - AnnRon, Dec 21, 2014

Am I lacking a verb, I guess I don't see it - bandit51jd, Dec 21, 2014

No... you have all the verbs. It should just be "me encantan" because you love multiple things. :) - Tosh, Dec 21, 2014

Answer 11

I hope you all have a great Christmas.

Espero que todos tengan una feliz Navidad.

"que todos". ¡Feliz Navidad también para ti, Rac! :)) - Cordobesa, Dec 20, 2014

Muchas gracias, Bigi. ¡Feliz Navidad! :)♥ - rac1, Dec 20, 2014

Bibi no es tan grande! :) - Tosh, Dec 20, 2014

:) - Cordobesa, Dec 21, 2014

I love Bigi! - annierats, Dec 21, 2014

:)) - Cordobesa, Dec 21, 2014

Answer 12

New attempt: George Lucas esperaba que los Ewoks ayudaren a derribar el Imperio tecnológicamente avanzado.

George Lucas esperó que los Ewoks ayudara a derribar el Imperio tecnológicamente avanzado.

George Lucas hoped the Ewoks would help bring down the technologically advanced Empire.

So here the change of subject from George Lucas to los Ewoks requires "ayudar" to be in the subjunctive? - bandit51jd, Dec 20, 2014

It sounds better with "esperaba" because he hoped that for quite some time. Yes, "ayudar" needs to be in the subjunctive, but there is a tiny error with "ayudara". Can you find it? :) - Tosh, Dec 20, 2014

Yes, I forgot the accent on the last "a"? I also forgot to make "ayudar" plural so I need "ayudarán" if it was indicative but "ayudaren" for the subjunctive? - bandit51jd, Dec 20, 2014

Very good! It was just an error of agreement. But it should be "ayudaran". :) - Tosh, Dec 20, 2014