esperar Affirmative Imperative Conjugation
esperar — to wait for
The affirmative imperative of esperar uses: espera (tú), espere (usted), esperemos (nosotros), esperad (vosotros), esperen (ustedes).
esperar Affirmative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Affirmative Imperative
Use this to tell someone to wait or to 'hold on' a moment. It is very common in everyday conversation when asking for patience.
Notes on esperar in the Affirmative Imperative
Esperar is regular. The 'tú' form is 'espera' (like the present 'él' form) and the 'vosotros' form replaces the 'r' with a 'd'.
Example Sentences
¡Espera un momento, por favor!
Wait a moment, please!
tú
Esperen aquí hasta que yo vuelva.
Wait here until I return.
ustedes
Esperad vuestro turno en la fila.
Wait for your turn in line.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'esperar' as a command.
Correct: Use 'espera' or 'espere'.
Why: Learners often use the infinitive for commands, but Spanish requires the specific imperative form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: espero
The present tense of esperar is regular: espero, esperas, espera, esperamos, esperáis, esperan.
Preterite
yo: esperé
The preterite of esperar is regular: esperé, esperaste, esperó, esperamos, esperasteis, esperaron.
Imperfect
yo: esperaba
The imperfect of esperar uses standard -aba endings: esperaba, esperabas, esperaba, esperábamos, esperabais, esperaban.
Future
yo: esperaré
The future of esperar uses the infinitive as the stem: esperaré, esperarás, esperará, esperaremos, esperaréis, esperarán.
Conditional
yo: esperaría
The conditional of esperar is regular: esperaría, esperarías, esperaría, esperaríamos, esperaríais, esperarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: espere
The present subjunctive of esperar uses -e endings: espere, esperes, espere, esperemos, esperéis, esperen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: esperara
The imperfect subjunctive of esperar is formed from 'esperaron': esperara, esperaras, esperara, esperáramos, esperarais, esperaran.
Negative Imperative
yo: no esperes
The negative imperative of esperar uses the present subjunctive: no esperes, no espere, no esperemos, no esperéis, no esperen.