espero que + Subjunctive
Subjunctive with Hope
Use 'espero que' + subjunctive to say you hope something happens.
How It Works
Esperar can mean 'hope', 'expect', or 'wait'. In the hope construction, esperar que takes subjunctive: Espero que tengas un buen día. (I hope you have a good day.)
Choosing the Tense
Use the present subjunctive for many present or future hopes: Espero que estudies. For an earlier completed event, Espero que hayas llegado means 'I hope you have arrived'. A past hope can use Esperaba que llegaras (I hoped you would arrive). The construction does not require present subjunctive in every context.
Subjects and Infinitives
Same-subject hopes usually take an infinitive: Espero llegar a tiempo. (I hope to arrive on time.) With another subject, use a clause: Espero que tú llegues a tiempo. (I hope you arrive on time.) However, subject change is not an absolute rule: Espero que yo también pueda ir is possible when the speaker emphasizes their own participation. The expression of hope selects the mood; merely changing subjects does not.
Hope and Expectation
Indicative can occur when esperar presents an expectation or supposition rather than a wish. For the ordinary hope reading taught here, use subjunctive. Do not confuse this with esperar a que, meaning 'wait until'.
Examples (5)
- Espero que tengas un buen día.
I hope you have a good day.
Word by Word: I hope that you have a good day.
- Espero que todo salga bien en la entrevista.
I hope everything goes well in the interview.
Word by Word: I hope that everything goes out well in the interview.
- Mis padres esperan que yo estudie medicina.
My parents hope that I study medicine.
Word by Word: My parents hope that I study medicine.
- Esperamos que nos visiten pronto.
We hope they visit us soon.
Word by Word: We hope that us they visit soon.
- Espero que no llueva mañana.
I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow.
Word by Word: I hope that not it rains tomorrow.
Common Mistakes
Using indicative for the intended ordinary hope 'I hope you come'.
Espero que vienes a la fiesta.Espero que vengas a la fiesta.Use 'vengas' to express this wish. Indicative can occur with esperar when presenting an expectation or supposition, so mood depends on meaning rather than a mechanical subject-change rule.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'espero que' with the subjunctive, you first need to learn the conjugation of the present subjunctive for all verb types. Additionally, understanding the basic structure of 'verb of influence + que + different subject + subjunctive' (as seen in 'quiero que') is essential for applying this pattern correctly.
- -a/-as/-a/-amos/-áis/-anPresent Subjunctive -ER/-IR
The learner must know how to conjugate -ER and -IR verbs in the present subjunctive to form the subordinate clause.
Level 3 - quiero que + SubjunctiveSubjunctive with Wishes
This pattern introduces the fundamental concept of using the subjunctive in subordinate clauses following a change of subject and a verb of influence or wish.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- ojalá (que) + SubjunctiveOjalá with Subjunctive
'Ojalá' also expresses hope or a wish. A following finite verb is subjunctive; 'ojalá' can also stand alone.
Level 3 - -e/-es/-e/-emos/-éis/-enPresent Subjunctive -AR
This is the conjugation pattern for present subjunctive -AR verbs, which you need to know to correctly form sentences with 'espero que'.
Level 3 - dudo que + SubjunctiveSubjunctive with Doubt
'Espero que' expresses hope; 'dudo que' expresses doubt. Both ordinarily select subjunctive, without claiming that the situation is necessarily false.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice espero que + Subjunctive in Bubblegum
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