I expected to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I expected to be" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing anticipation or belief about a future state or situation regarding oneself. Example: "I expected to be more successful in my career by this point."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I expected to be hurt.

The New York Times - Sports

I expected to be arrested.

The Guardian - Opinion

I expected to be angry.

The New York Times

I expected to be there a while.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I expected to be in the N.B.A.

The New York Times - Sports

"I expected to be married," she said.

The New York Times

Not that I expected to be.

The New York Times

"I expected to be eating bark".

The New Yorker

I expected to be off next week".

The New York Times - Sports

I expected to be thrown in at the deep end, but I expected to be supported.

The Guardian

That I was braver than I expected to be.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I expected to be" when you want to express a prior belief or anticipation about your future state or situation. Ensure the context clearly indicates the basis for your expectation.

Common error

Avoid using "I expected to be" when you actually mean a strong desire or hope. "I hoped to be" or "I wished to be" may be more accurate if the expectation was not firmly grounded in reality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I expected to be" functions as a declarative statement expressing a prior belief or anticipation regarding a future or current state. It indicates what the speaker thought would happen or be the case. As Ludwig AI shows, it's commonly used to express feelings about what someone expected to be or happen.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I expected to be" is a versatile expression used to convey a prior anticipation or belief about a future state. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms that it is grammatically correct and very commonly used, particularly in News & Media. While its register is generally neutral, it is important to use it accurately, distinguishing it from expressions of hope or desire. Consider alternatives like "I anticipated being" for more formal contexts or "I hoped to be" when expressing a desire. Ensure the context provides a clear basis for your expectation to avoid any ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I anticipated being

Uses 'anticipated' instead of 'expected', suggesting a slightly more formal or thoughtful expectation.

I foresaw myself as

Emphasizes a vision or prediction of oneself in a particular state.

I envisioned myself being

Highlights the mental imagery and detailed planning behind the expectation.

I presumed I would be

Implies a degree of assumption or likelihood in the expectation.

I had thought I would be

Indicates a past belief or consideration that may or may not still be held.

I calculated on being

Suggests a planned or calculated expectation, often related to logistics or resources.

I took it for granted that I would be

Highlights an expectation that was considered certain or inevitable.

I had every reason to believe I would be

Stresses the justification or basis for the expectation.

I was under the impression that I would be

Implies that the expectation might have been based on incomplete or misleading information.

I was led to believe I would be

Suggests that external sources influenced the expectation.

FAQs

How can I use "I expected to be" in a sentence?

Use "I expected to be" to express a past anticipation or belief about a future state. For example, "I expected to be finished with the project by now, but it's taking longer than anticipated".

What's a more formal alternative to "I expected to be"?

A more formal alternative is "I anticipated being", which conveys a similar meaning but with a slightly more sophisticated tone.

Is "I expected to have been" different from "I expected to be"?

Yes, "I expected to have been" refers to an expectation about a state that should have already occurred by a certain time. "I expected to be" refers to a future or ongoing state. For example, "I expected to have been promoted by now" versus "I expected to be happy in this new role".

What can I say instead of "I expected to be" to express a hope rather than an anticipation?

To express a hope, you could use phrases like "I hoped to be", "I wished to be", or "I desired to be", depending on the nuance you want to convey.