expect to come

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expect to come" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when anticipating someone's arrival or participation in an event or situation. Example: "We expect to come to the meeting on time, as we have important updates to share."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Just don't expect to come away unscathed.

The New Yorker

"I didn't expect to come in here and be Superman".

The New York Times - Sports

But critics can expect to come away unmoved.

The Economist

I expect to come back maybe fitter, stronger, healthier".

The New York Times - Sports

"I didn't expect to come here and play big minutes.

The New York Times - Sports

"We do not expect to come back and find peace.

The Guardian

It's a film that you expect to come smothered in industrial amounts of schmaltz.

Independent

But even its leader, Geert Wilders, did not expect to come second.

The Economist

I didn't expect to come here tonight and win both awards.

Independent

"I certainly expect to come back, and come back strong," Rodriguez said.

The New York Times - Sports

I'll confess that I did not expect to come to this conclusion.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "expect to come", ensure the subject logically aligns with the action. For instance, "We expect to come prepared" is clearer than "The meeting expects to come prepared."

Common error

Avoid using reflexive pronouns incorrectly with "expect to come". For example, "I expect myself to come" is usually redundant; "I expect to come" is sufficient.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expect to come" functions as an infinitive phrase often used to express anticipation, intention, or likelihood of arrival or participation. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sports

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "expect to come" is a common and versatile infinitive phrase used to express anticipation, intention, or expectation of arrival or participation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely employed across various contexts, including news media, sports reporting, and general conversation. While suitable for both formal and informal settings, synonyms like "anticipate arriving" may lend a more formal tone. When crafting sentences with "expect to come", ensure logical alignment between the subject and action to prevent ambiguity. Avoid incorrect use of reflexive pronouns for clarity. Overall, "expect to come" is a reliable and easily understood phrase for conveying future actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anticipate arriving

Uses "anticipate" to convey a formal expectation of arrival, differing in formality.

look forward to coming

Expresses a positive anticipation or enjoyment of an upcoming event, adding an element of enthusiasm.

count on showing up

Expresses reliance or dependence on someone's presence, adding an element of dependability.

plan to attend

Indicates a pre-arranged intention to be present, focusing on the planned action.

hope to be present

Conveys a desire or wish to attend, highlighting a degree of uncertainty.

intend to arrive

Highlights a deliberate intention to reach a destination, emphasizing the act of arriving.

envisage participating

Suggests mentally picturing oneself taking part, adding a visual aspect to expectation.

presume to visit

Suggests a likely assumption of a visit, potentially implying a degree of confidence.

foresee appearing

Implies predicting an appearance, using a more formal and predictive tone.

take it for granted to be there

Indicates assuming presence without question, emphasizing a habitual expectation.

FAQs

How can I use "expect to come" in a sentence?

You can use "expect to come" to express an anticipation or plan to arrive at a specific location or event. For example: "We "expect to come" to the party later tonight" or "They "expect to come" prepared for the presentation".

What's a more formal alternative to "expect to come"?

For a more formal tone, you might use "anticipate arriving" or "intend to be present". These alternatives add a layer of professionalism suitable for business or academic settings.

Is it correct to say "I'm expecting him to come" instead of "I expect him to come"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "I expect him to come" expresses a general expectation. "I'm expecting him to come" implies a more immediate or certain anticipation.

What can I say instead of "I didn't expect to come"?

Depending on the context, you could say "I didn't anticipate arriving", "I wasn't planning on coming", or "I hadn't foreseen being here".