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verb: s’attendre à

The French verb “s’attendre à” means “to expect” or “to anticipate.”

“S’attendre à” vs. “Attendre”

The primary difference between “s’attendre à” and “attendre” is that “s’attendre à” is reflexive (or “pronominal” as we say in French) and “attendre” is not. While “attendre” means “to wait for” or “to await,” “s’attendre à” means “to expect” or “to anticipate.”

Conjugation of “S’attendre à”

Present Tense:

  • Je m’attends à
  • Tu t’attends à
  • Il/elle/on s’attend à
  • Nous nous attendons à
  • Vous vous attendez à
  • Ils/elles s’attendent à

Example (Present Tense):

  • Je m’attends à une réponse.
    (I expect an answer.)

Passé Composé:

  • Je me suis attendu à
  • Tu t’es attendu à
  • Il/elle/on s’est attendu à
  • Nous nous sommes attendus à
  • Vous vous êtes attendus à
  • Ils/elles se sont attendus à

Example (Passé Composé):

  • Je me suis attendu à cette rencontre toute la semaine.
    (I anticipated this meeting all week.)

Usage of “S’attendre à”

  • Anticipating an event: Je m’attends à une belle soirée.
    (I’m expecting a lovely evening.)
  • Preparing for an outcome: Nous nous attendons à des changements dans l’entreprise.
    (We are expecting changes in the company.)
  • Expressing surprise: Il ne s’attendait pas à cette réaction.
    (He didn’t expect this reaction.)

Using the Pronoun “Y” with “S’attendre à”

The pronoun “y” is often used with “s’attendre à” when you want to refer to “it,” rather than naming the person, thing or situation that is expected. “Y” replaces the preposition “à” and helps avoid repetition. For example:

  • J’y m’attends.
    (I’m expecting it.)
  • Ils s’attendent à un miracle, mais je n’y crois pas.
    (They’re expecting a miracle, but I don’t believe in it.)

Etymology of “Attendre”

The verb “attendre” comes from the Latin word “attendere,” which means “to stretch toward” or “to wait for.” Over time, it evolved into the French word “attendre,” meaning to wait or to expect.

Idiomatic Expressions with “S’attendre à”

  • S’attendre au pire
    (Expect the worst)
  • S’attendre à tout
    (Expect anything)
  • S’attendre à ce que
    (Expect that)

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