I was hoping you would come

Question

I was hoping you would come.

Here is an example of a common English phrase that can have many meanings. Today I will show you how many Americans use this phrase. Then, I will translate into Spanish, and ask for corrections to my Spanish.

The sentences below are not intended to be an entire conversation. Each line stands alone and the context of previous conversation is taken for granted.

1. I'm throwing a party next week. I was hoping you would come. (I hope you come)
   
2. I can't come to your party. Oh...I was hoping you would come. (I'm sorry you can't come)
   
3. I'll come to your party. Great, I was hoping you would come. (I'm glad that you are coming)
   
4. (Person arrives at a party) Hi, I was hoping you would come. (I'm glad you came)
   
5. (Person doesn't come, and you're talking to them the next day) Yeah, I was hoping you would come (I wish you had come, and I was disappointed that you didn't)

BTW, I'm not saying that I was hoping you would come is the most appropriate thing to say in each situation. Generally, the phrase in parentheses would be clearer and more direct. But phrases such as this are frequently used in English as a polite or flowery way of speaking, that can be confusing to English learners if they are not aware of this phenomena.

There are two or three keys to understanding this kind of stuff:

1. The context - what's has been said before, interpret the situation
2. The intonation - each of these phrases would be said quite differently, even if the same words are used in each.
3. The body language & facial expressions.

All of the above improves with time...but only if you are out talking with people (and to a certain extent reading, watching or listening) in English.

Answer 1

I read time ago about a spanish man moved to U.K telling that the brithis can express their disapoint and the oposite one ( agrado. I don't) remember the English word ) with the same expression . He never knew how to interpretate it and he was lost ever. So he decided to go to all the parties . Some times he was able to understand it looking at his friend's wife.

Perdón por mi Inglés. Lo he escrito de carrerilla. Por favor sean tan amables de corregirlo. Me gustaría saber que tal lo he hecho sin revisarlo y sin pararme demasiado a pensarlo.

I read some time ago about a Spanish man who moved to U.K who said that the British can express their disappointment and their pleasure with the same expression. - bosquederoble, Mar 24, 2017

He never knew how to interpret anything and was always lost. So he decided to go to all the parties. Sometimes he was able to understand things by looking at his friend's wife. - bosquederoble, Mar 24, 2017

Great job Bosque. Astotxua...I was about to send you my corrections, but Bosque beat me to it. I wouldn't change a thing that he wrote. - DilKen, Mar 24, 2017

Thanks. I'm happy . I did it bad but not so bad as I thought - 000a35ff, Mar 24, 2017

Thanks both. I' m going to try to rewritte it in my pc. Without seeing again the response to see if I am able to rest mistakes. Thanks - 000a35ff, Mar 24, 2017

Astotxua: It wasn't that bad. There were a few mistakes, but everything was communicated/understand and that's the most important thing, right? BTW, thank for all the help yesterday:) - DilKen, Mar 24, 2017

Lo mejor sería: Without looking at the response again to see if I am able to remove (or correct) the mistakes. - DilKen, Mar 24, 2017

Answer 2

Great post!

@Ken: Gracias!

Gracias Luis. Me alegro de que te gustara. :) Tú eres mi gallo:) - DilKen, Mar 24, 2017