esperar Preterite Conjugation
esperar — to wait for
The preterite of esperar is regular: esperé, esperaste, esperó, esperamos, esperasteis, esperaron.
esperar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite when you waited for a specific amount of time that is now over, or when you finally 'waited' through a specific event that has concluded.
Notes on esperar in the Preterite
Esperar is regular in the preterite. Note that 'esperamos' is the same in both present and preterite; context will tell you the timing.
Example Sentences
Esperé dos horas en la clínica.
I waited for two hours at the clinic.
yo
Él esperó hasta que ella llegó.
He waited until she arrived.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros esperamos el resultado ayer.
We waited for the result yesterday.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: esperasteis (omitting the 'i')
Correct: esperasteis
Why: Learners often forget the 'i' in the vosotros ending for -ar verbs in the preterite.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: espero
The present tense of esperar is regular: espero, esperas, espera, esperamos, esperáis, esperan.
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.
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.