esperamos
/es-pe-RAH-mos/
we wait
We wait. (esperamos)
esperamos(Verb (Conjugated Form))
we wait
?present action/habit
,we hope
?present desire/expectation
we are waiting
?continuous action
,we expect
?anticipation
📝 In Action
Esperamos el tren en la estación.
A1We are waiting for the train at the station.
Siempre esperamos lo mejor de nuestros estudiantes.
A2We always expect the best from our students.
Esperamos que llegues a tiempo para la cena.
B1We hope that you arrive in time for dinner.
💡 Grammar Points
Waiting for People/Things
When you are waiting for a person or a thing, 'esperar' usually uses the preposition 'a' before the person, but not before the thing: 'Esperamos a María' (We wait for María), but 'Esperamos el bus' (We wait for the bus).
Hoping (Subjunctive Trigger)
When 'esperamos' means 'we hope' and is followed by 'que' and a different person, the next verb must change to its special form (subjunctive): 'Esperamos que venga' (We hope that he comes).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Wait' vs. 'Hope' Conjugation
Mistake: "Using *esperemos* when you mean 'We wait' right now."
Correction: Use *esperamos* for present actions ('We wait'). *Esperemos* is for commands or desires ('Let's wait' or 'That we may wait').
⭐ Usage Tips
The Dual Meaning
Remember that 'esperar' covers both 'to wait' and 'to hope.' Context usually tells you which one is meant, but if you're talking about a future outcome, it's 'hope/expect.' If you're talking about time passing, it's 'wait.'
We waited. (esperamos)
esperamos(Verb (Conjugated Form))
we waited
?past completed action
we hoped
?past expectation
📝 In Action
Esperamos en la sala de espera por más de una hora.
A2We waited in the waiting room for more than an hour.
Esperamos su llamada toda la tarde.
A2We waited for his call all afternoon.
Esperamos que el viaje fuera fácil, pero no lo fue.
B1We hoped the trip would be easy, but it wasn't.
💡 Grammar Points
Present vs. Past Ambiguity
The form 'esperamos' is identical for 'we wait' (Present) and 'we waited' (Preterite). You must rely on time markers (like 'ayer,' 'la semana pasada') or the surrounding conversation to know which tense is being used.
Completed Action
When 'esperamos' is used in the past, it implies the waiting or hoping had a clear beginning and end, like 'We waited exactly three hours and then left.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using Imperfect Instead of Preterite
Mistake: "Using *esperábamos* (we were waiting) when referring to a single, completed action."
Correction: Use *esperamos* (Preterite) for actions that finished, like 'We waited one hour.' Use *esperábamos* (Imperfect) for ongoing, descriptive background actions.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is King
Because this form is ambiguous, always try to include a time phrase in the sentence if you are using it in the past (e.g., 'Ayer esperamos...' Yesterday we waited...).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: esperamos
Question 1 of 2
Which English sentence MUST refer to the past tense use of 'esperamos'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'esperamos' means 'we wait' or 'we hoped'?
Context is the key. If the sentence includes a clear past time marker (like 'last week' or 'yesterday'), it means 'we waited' (past). If it refers to an ongoing action or a future desire, it means 'we wait/hope' (present).
What is the difference between 'esperamos' and 'esperemos'?
'Esperamos' is the simple statement of fact: 'We wait' or 'We waited.' 'Esperemos' is the special form used to express a strong desire or command for the group: 'Let's wait' or 'We hope that...'