"I know the word expect has many different meanings and I have met many sentences in which the meanings of the word are all different. And I'm also very confused about the phrase 'be expected to'. "

Tom Zhou

In this programme, Yang Li and William answer a question from Tom Zhou about the word 'expect'.

It is a verb that some language learners misunderstand slightly. It does not mean the same as 'to hope' but its meaning does vary slightly. Look at the sentences below and observe how it is being used in different situations:

How many people are we expecting?

I'm half-expecting to hear from the local radio station!

You are expected to be at your desk by 9.30 every day.

A: I'm expecting!

B: Congratulations! When's it due?

I'm expecting!

Listen to the programme to hear these examples explained.

Do you have a question about English language or vocabulary? Why not write to us at questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk? We might make a programme about your question too.

Expect 单词 Expect 的多种用法
 
William:    Hello and welcome to Question and Answer of the Week. My name is William Kremer. 
 
Li:   大家好我是杨莉本周你问我答节目的问题来自Tom Zhou, 他把自己的问题录音然后用mp3发到了我们的电子邮箱questions.elt@bbc.co.uk, 收音机前的各位听友，如果你有问题也可以随时发给我们！好，现在我们一起听听Tom的录音提问。
                                                                                              
Insert
I know the word expect has many different meanings. And I have met many sentences in which the meanings of the word are all different. And I'm also very confused about the phrase 'be expected to'. So I'm looking forward to your answers.
 
Li:   听上去 Tom 想了解一下expect这个英语单词的用法。下面请大家听一段对话，其中包含了expect 这个词的多种用法，看看你能不能听出来它们都表达的是什么意思。对话的是两位女士，其中一位是老板。她们谈论这即将开放的opening一个新展馆。
 
Insert
 
A:    How many people are we expecting for the opening?
B:    Oh, 40 or 50. 60 people have said they will come but I don't expect all of them to make it.
A:    Yeah, that's only to be expected I guess.
B:    Have you contacted the press?
A:    Yes. The Herald has called me back already and I'm half-expecting to hear from the local radio station!
B:    Oh that's good, well done! Will the Herald run the story in their culture section?
A:    I expect so, yes. 
B:    Good, good. But erm, listen... there is one thing that I wanted to discuss with you...
A:    Oh yes?
B:    Yes... your timekeeping. You came in after 10.30 today. Really, I expect you to be at your desk by 9.30 every day, at the latest. 
A:    Ok... 
B:    Now I know I'm expecting a lot of you at the moment, what with the opening and so on but I do think it's important that you keep to your hours. 
A:    Ok, I'm sorry about this morning. I had a doctor's appointment but I should have told you about it beforehand. Actually... as a matter of fact I have some news...
B:    ... Right?
A:    I'm expecting! 
 
 
Page 2 of 3
 
 
B:    No way?! Congratulations! 
A:    Thanks.
B:    Put that box down! Pregnant women shouldn't be lifting heavy things!
 
                                                                        
William:    Let's listen again to bits of that dialogue. First we heard the most common use of 'expect' to simply mean a belief that something is going to happen. 
 
Li:   这是最常见的一个意思，就是确信某件事将会发生。 
 
William:    And we also heard the useful phrases That's only to be expected and I expect so.
 
Li:   That's only to be expected 那是意料之中的; I expect so 我想会这样的。 现在我们把对话的第一部分再听一遍。 
 
Insert
 
A:    How many people are we expecting for the opening?
B:    Oh, 40 or 50. 60 people have said they will come but I don't expect all of them to
make it.
A:    Yeah, that's only to be expected I guess.
B:    Have you contacted the press?
A:    Yes. The Herald has called me back already and I'm half-expecting to hear from
the local radio station!
B:    Oh that's good, well done! Will the Herald run the story in their culture section?
A:    I expect so, yes. 
 
Li:   什么是 half-expecting, Will? 
 
William:   Well, we say 'half-expecting' when we have a belief that something is going to happen, but it's not a strong belief, so it might happen. 
 
Li:   接下去的对话里expect 这个词的意思又有变化了，William你说对不对? 请大家注意听，下面这个expect 意思是职责。
 
William:   That's right, Li. Let's listen again.
 
Insert
 
B:    You came in after 10.30 today. Really, I expect you to be at your desk by 9.30 every day, at the latest. 
A:    Ok... 
B:    Now I know I'm expecting a lot of you at the moment, what with the opening and so on but I do think it's important that you keep to your hours. 
 
William:   I expect you to be at your desk by 9.30.
 
Li:   你应该九点三十分准时到班。
 
Page 3 of 3
 

William:   They expect us to do that. Or you can say: They expect that of us. And this relates to the phrase that Tom mentioned, which is in the passive voice – to be expected to do something: we are expected to do that.
 
Now lastly, there's also quite a different use of the word 'expect'. If you just say 'I'm expecting' – what does that mean?
 
Insert
A:    I have some news...
B:    ...Right?
A:    I'm expecting!
B:    No way?! Congratulations! 
 
Li:   大家猜出来了吗？ 当一个年轻女子说I'm expecting 的时候，就是说她有喜了，她怀孕了! 
 
William:     Now, Tom, I do hope that we've answered your question today!
 
Both:   Bye!