expected him to

USAGE SUMMARY

'expected him to' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you anticipate or expect someone to do something. Example: I expected him to arrive on time, but he was over an hour late.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

We expected him to.

The Washington Post

We expected him to perform here.

The New York Times - Sports

I never expected him to call.

The New York Times

No one expected him to last long.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I expected him to fight.

The Guardian - Sport

"I expected him to be better this year.

The New York Times - Sports

No one expected him to win.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

I half-expected him to deliver a comedic punch line. .

Huffington Post

I half-expected him to add, "and they're films".

Huffington Post

No one expected him to stay.

The New York Times - Sports

He did everything I expected him to.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expected him to" to express a clear anticipation of someone's actions, based on prior knowledge, experience, or commitment. For instance, "Given his track record, I "expected him to" deliver the project on time."

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses with "expected him to". Ensure the tense of 'expected' aligns with the time frame of the anticipated action. For example, instead of "I am expecting him to finished the report yesterday", use "I "expected him to" finish the report yesterday."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expected him to" functions primarily as a verb phrase expressing a prior anticipation or belief regarding someone's future action. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is a grammatically sound and frequently used construct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "expected him to" is a common and grammatically correct construction used to express anticipation or reliance on someone's actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used in English. Predominantly found in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts, its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse communications. When using this phrase, consider alternatives like "anticipated he would" or "relied on him to" to add nuance to your writing. Be mindful of tense consistency to avoid grammatical errors and ensure clarity. By following these guidelines, you can effectively utilize "expected him to" to convey your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relied on him to

Similar to 'counted on', highlighting dependence on the person's capabilities or commitment.

counted on him to

Emphasizes reliance and trust in the person to perform the action.

anticipated he would

Replaces 'expected' with 'anticipated', emphasizing a slightly more formal sense of foreseeing an action.

trusted him to

Focuses on the element of trust and confidence in the individual.

believed he would

Highlights the belief that the person would perform the action, potentially based on past behavior or promises.

assumed he would

Substitutes 'expected' with 'assumed', suggesting a belief based on less concrete evidence.

presumed he would

Similar to 'assumed', but with a slightly stronger implication of taking something for granted.

figured he would

A more informal alternative, implying a casual expectation based on reasoning or intuition.

foresaw him doing

Uses 'foresaw' to imply a prediction of the action, often based on insight or understanding.

envisioned him doing

Similar to 'foresaw', but suggests a more imaginative or creative anticipation of the action.

FAQs

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

Use "expected him to" to express your anticipation of someone's action. For instance, "I "expected him to" call, but he never did" or "We "expected him to" win the race easily".

What are some alternatives to "expected him to"?

You can use alternatives like "anticipated he would", "relied on him to", or "assumed he would", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "I had expected him to"?

Yes, "I had expected him to" is grammatically correct. It uses the past perfect tense to describe an expectation that existed before another point in the past.

What's the difference between "I expected him to" and "I was expecting him to"?

"I "expected him to"" implies a general expectation, while "I was expecting him to" suggests you were in a state of anticipation at a particular time. The latter emphasizes the ongoing nature of the expectation.