Yo espero el autobús en la estación.

I wait for the bus at the station.

Breakdown of Yo espero el autobús en la estación.

• yo: I
• la estación: the station
• el autobús: the bus
• en: at
• esperar: to wait for

Questions & Answers about Yo espero el autobús en la estación.

Why is the subject pronoun yo used here? Is it necessary?

In Spanish, subject pronouns (yo, tú, él, etc.) are usually optional because the verb ending already tells you who the subject is.

• Here, yo is included for emphasis or contrast (“I am the one waiting”), or simply for clarity if the context demands it.
• You could just say Espero el autobús en la estación and it would still be perfectly correct.

How do I know that esperar means “to wait” and not “to hope” in this sentence?

Esperar can mean both “to wait” and “to hope.” Context and sentence structure tell you which meaning applies:

• When esperar takes a direct object like el autobús, it means “to wait for the bus.”
• When it introduces a subordinate clause with que
  • subjunctive (e.g. Espero que vengas), it means “to hope that you come.”

Why is there a definite article before autobús (i.e. el autobús)?

Spanish often uses definite articles before nouns even when English drops them. Here, you’re referring to a specific bus you expect, so you say el autobús.

• If you drop the article, it sounds unnatural or overly general: Espero autobús...
• Definite articles are common with transportation: el tren, la bicicleta, el taxi.

Why is the preposition en used before la estación? Could I use a or por instead?

To express “waiting at a place,” Spanish uses en:

• Espero el autobús en la estación = “I wait for the bus at the station.”
• a would suggest movement toward (e.g. Voy a la estación), not waiting there.
• por often marks reason, duration, or exchange, so por la estación wouldn’t convey “at that location.”

Can I say Estoy esperando el autobús en la estación instead? What’s the difference?

Yes, that’s also correct. Estoy esperando is the present continuous, emphasizing the action is happening right now.

• Espero el autobús... is simple present (“I wait for the bus”), which in Spanish can also describe current routines or immediate situations.
• Both forms are common:
  • Espero el autobús en la estación (simple, more neutral)
  • Estoy esperando el autobús en la estación (ongoing action)

Why is estación used? Could I use parada instead?

• Estación refers to a larger terminal (bus station, train station).
• Parada is a smaller stop (bus stop on the street).
  If you’re at a big facility with ticket counters and multiple platforms, use estación. For a simple curbside stop, parada is more appropriate.

Is the word order flexible? Can I say En la estación espero el autobús?

Yes. Spanish allows you to front adverbial phrases for emphasis or style:

• En la estación espero el autobús (stresses the location)
• Espero el autobús en la estación (neutral order)
  Verb–object order stays the same, but placing the location first is perfectly natural.

What are some regional alternatives for autobús in Latin America?

Different countries use different terms:
• El camión (Mexico)
• El micro (Argentina, Chile)
• El colectivo (Argentina, Uruguay)
• El bus (widespread informal)
Just pick the word that matches the local dialect you’re learning.

Do I need a preposition between esperar and its object (el autobús)?

No. Esperar is a transitive verb, so it takes a direct object without any preposition:

• Correct: Espero el autobús
• Incorrect: Espero *a el autobús
  The preposition *a is required only when the direct object is a person or a personified animal (e.g. Espero a María).