What does it mean word for word?
The form j'espère is a contraction of je and espère, resulting from the elision of the e in je before a vowel.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Canadian French, specifically in regions like Quebec or parts of Eastern Canada, the colloquial expression j'espère ben is used, which replaces bien with ben.
How does it change in a sentence?
When j'espère is followed by a clause, it is almost always accompanied by the conjunction que. Unlike many other French verbs expressing desire that require the subjunctive mood, j'espère is followed by the indicative mood in positive sentences.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the subjunctive mood after j'espère que because they associate the concept of hope with desire. Instead, you should use the indicative mood for positive statements.
Did you know?
- The French language has a specific word, espérance, which refers to a deeper, more spiritual or long-term hope than the simple act of espérer.
- In spoken French, the e in espère is often dropped entirely, making the word sound more like j'spère.
- While j'espère takes the indicative mood in positive sentences, it often triggers the subjunctive mood if the phrase is negated, such as in je n'espère pas que.
Examples in context
- J'espère te voir vite.I hope I can see you soon.This sentence shows how to use j'espère to express a hope about seeing someone soon.Tatoeba #1033254 by sacredceltic, translation #1230478 by alec
- J'espère qu'il a tort.I hope he's wrong.This sentence demonstrates using j'espère to express a hope regarding someone being wrong.Tatoeba #2444103 by sacredceltic, translation #2006525 by Spamster
- C'est ce que j'espère.That's what I hope.This sentence shows how to use j'espère as a standalone response to express what you hope.Tatoeba #4958896 by franlexcois, translation #5431160 by CK
- Je vous écris pour confirmer ma participation à la réunion. J'espère que cette réponse vous parviendra à temps.I am writing to confirm my attendance at the meeting. I hope this response reaches you on time.
- J'espère que vous passerez de merveilleuses vacances.I hope you have a wonderful vacation.
- J'espère que tu réussiras ton examen demain.I hope you pass your exam tomorrow.
- J'espère bien que vous allez adorer ce cadeau !I really hope you'll love this gift!
- J'espère bien que tu pourras venir à ma fête d'anniversaire.I really hope you can come to my birthday party.
- Salut Paul, je voulais juste te dire que j'espère que ça va pour toi en ce moment.Hi Paul, I just wanted to say that I hope everything's going well for you right now.
- 1072 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Chloé are talking about the weather before a walk.
- LucasJ'espère qu'il fera beau demain.I hope the weather will be nice tomorrow.
- ChloéMoi aussi, j'espère qu'il ne pleuvra pas.Me too, I hope it doesn't rain.
- LucasTu as raison, c'est important.You are right, it is important.
- ChloéOui, on pourra se promener.Yes, we will be able to go for a walk.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
