esperar Present Subjunctive Conjugation
esperar — to wait for
The present subjunctive of esperar uses -e endings: espere, esperes, espere, esperemos, esperéis, esperen.
esperar Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use this when you want someone else to wait, or after expressions of emotion/doubt like 'Espero que...' (I hope that...).
Notes on esperar in the Present Subjunctive
Esperar is regular in the subjunctive. It follows the standard pattern of swapping the -a endings for -e endings.
Example Sentences
Espero que ella espere un poco más.
I hope that she waits a little longer.
él/ella/usted
No quiero que esperes bajo la lluvia.
I don't want you to wait in the rain.
tú
Es posible que ellos esperen afuera.
It is possible that they are waiting outside.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Espero que esperas.
Correct: Espero que esperes.
Why: The verb 'esperar' (to hope) triggers the subjunctive in the following clause because it expresses a wish.
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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.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: esperara
The imperfect subjunctive of esperar is formed from 'esperaron': esperara, esperaras, esperara, esperáramos, esperarais, esperaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: espera
The affirmative imperative of esperar uses: espera (tú), espere (usted), esperemos (nosotros), esperad (vosotros), esperen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no esperes
The negative imperative of esperar uses the present subjunctive: no esperes, no espere, no esperemos, no esperéis, no esperen.