He's expecting you. He's waiting for you. Are there any difference? (2023)

• Anglais (GB)
• Anglais (USA)

@Emma-666

Yes it’s more formal. Like I said, in most situations it’s not important to think about which one is appropriate – it just doesn’t matter.

The only thing is that when there has been a prior expectation formed – you made a definite appointment with somebody – then they are absolutely expecting you. Just ask yourself – did this person form a prior expectation?

Like sometimes, you might knock on somebody’s door and they will say – oh hi, I wasn’t expecting you. They would never say – I wasn’t waiting for you. They are talking about expectations, because they didn’t have any prior expectation that you would knock on their door.

But now imagine another situation – You have been eating at a restaurant with friends, and one of them goes to get the car. You start talking to some other people at the restaurant and then you say – we really have to go, our friend is waiting for us in the car.

Your friend didn’t make an appointment with you and hold serious expectations that you would be in the car at a certain time. There’s no way you’re gonna say – our friend is expecting us. He’s just waiting until you are ready to go.

Utilisateur bien noté

• Anglais (GB)
• Anglais (USA)

@Emma-666

IS there any difference?

How many differences? If you don’t say specifically plural differences with the S suffix, then it is one difference.

However, in questions like this, we are not literally asking people to ennumerate the exact number of differences – what we are really asking is, IS there any difference AT ALL? So, the singular form is correct.

Now, to your question –

In most situations, there is no important difference of any kind.

But if you have made an appointment with somebody, then somebody may very well ask – he’s expecting you? IS he expecting you?

The person is deliberately referencing the appointment – are you totally sure that you have an appointment with this important person, because if I let you see him, you need to have an appointment first….?

• Chinois simplifié (Chine)

Thank you for correcting my mistake. Next time I would use " Is there any difference?"
So "expecting "sounds more formal? If my friend is waiting for me I should say "He's waiting for me". If my client is waiting for me, I should say " He's expecting me." Am I right?

• Anglais (GB)
• Anglais (USA)

@Emma-666

Yes it’s more formal. Like I said, in most situations it’s not important to think about which one is appropriate – it just doesn’t matter.

The only thing is that when there has been a prior expectation formed – you made a definite appointment with somebody – then they are absolutely expecting you. Just ask yourself – did this person form a prior expectation?

Like sometimes, you might knock on somebody’s door and they will say – oh hi, I wasn’t expecting you. They would never say – I wasn’t waiting for you. They are talking about expectations, because they didn’t have any prior expectation that you would knock on their door.

But now imagine another situation – You have been eating at a restaurant with friends, and one of them goes to get the car. You start talking to some other people at the restaurant and then you say – we really have to go, our friend is waiting for us in the car.

Your friend didn’t make an appointment with you and hold serious expectations that you would be in the car at a certain time. There’s no way you’re gonna say – our friend is expecting us. He’s just waiting until you are ready to go.

• Chinois simplifié (Chine)

It's very clear now. Thank you so much for your help!