esperaba
/es-peh-RAH-bah/
was waiting
The most common meaning of 'esperaba' is 'was waiting,' describing an action in progress in the past.
esperaba(Verb)
was waiting
?An action in progress in the past
used to wait
?A habitual action in the past
,waited
?Used when describing the background scene of a story
📝 In Action
Yo esperaba el autobús cuando empezó a llover.
A2I was waiting for the bus when it started to rain.
Mi abuela siempre me esperaba con galletas después de la escuela.
B1My grandmother always used to wait for me with cookies after school.
La sala estaba llena; mucha gente esperaba para entrar.
B1The room was full; many people were waiting to get in.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing Ongoing Past Actions
Use 'esperaba' to talk about something that was happening over a period of time in the past, like setting the scene in a story. Think of it as the '-ing' form in the past: 'I was waiting...'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'esperaba' and 'esperó'
Mistake: "Ayer, yo esperaba el tren por dos horas."
Correction: Ayer, yo esperé el tren por dos horas. Use 'esperé' for a completed action with a clear end. Use 'esperaba' for the background action ('I was waiting when something else happened').
⭐ Usage Tips
Setting the Scene
'Esperaba' is perfect for describing what was going on when the main event of a story happened. For example: 'Yo esperaba tranquilamente, y de repente, sonó el teléfono.' (I was waiting calmly, and suddenly, the phone rang.)
When 'esperaba' means 'was hoping,' it describes a past desire or wish, often looking toward a positive outcome.
esperaba(Verb)
was hoping
?Expressing a desire or wish in the past
used to hope
?A habitual desire in the past
,hoped
?Describing a past state of mind
📝 In Action
Esperaba que me llamaras para mi cumpleaños.
B1I was hoping you would call me for my birthday.
Cuando era niño, esperaba ser bombero.
B1When I was a kid, I used to hope to be a firefighter.
Ella no dijo nada, pero yo sé que esperaba buenas noticias.
B2She didn't say anything, but I know she was hoping for good news.
💡 Grammar Points
Hoping for Someone Else's Action
When you were hoping for someone else to do something, the verb that follows 'que' changes to a special form. Example: 'Esperaba que vinieras' (I was hoping that you would come).
⭐ Usage Tips
'Hope' vs. 'Wait'
Context is key! 'Esperaba el tren' means 'I was waiting for the train.' 'Esperaba que el tren llegara pronto' means 'I was hoping the train would arrive soon.' Adding 'que' often signals you mean 'hope'.
The word 'esperaba' can also mean 'was expecting,' showing anticipation of a person or a specific outcome.
esperaba(Verb)
was expecting
?Anticipating an outcome
used to expect
?A habitual anticipation in the past
,thought
?When it implies a belief about what would happen
📝 In Action
La verdad, no esperaba esa respuesta de ti.
B1Honestly, I wasn't expecting that answer from you.
Esperaba más gente en la fiesta.
B1I was expecting more people at the party.
El profesor esperaba un mayor esfuerzo por parte de los alumnos.
B2The teacher used to expect a greater effort from the students.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expecting a Baby
While you can say 'ella esperaba un bebé' (she was expecting a baby), it's much more common and natural to say 'ella estaba embarazada' (she was pregnant).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: esperaba
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence best captures the meaning of 'esperaba' as 'was hoping'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'esperaba' and 'esperó'?
Think of it like a movie scene. 'Esperaba' describes the background action that was already happening ('She was waiting by the window...'). 'Esperó' describes a specific, completed action that is part of the main story ('She waited for two hours, and then left.'). 'Esperaba' is for ongoing actions, 'esperó' is for finished ones.
How do I know if 'esperaba' means 'I', 'he', 'she', or 'you'?
You're right, the word itself can mean all of those! You have to look at the other words in the sentence. Often, the speaker will include 'yo' (I), 'él' (he), or 'ella' (she) for clarity. If not, the context of the conversation tells you who is being talked about.