expected you to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expected you to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a belief or assumption that someone would do something in the past. Example: "I expected you to finish the report by yesterday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

He expected you to pick up hints.

The New York Times

I expected you to be bigger.

Independent

"I never expected you to come here".

The Guardian - Sport

I had not expected you to be handsome.

The New Yorker

"He expected you to come get him," she said.

The New Yorker

They expected you to go home to your family.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

And I expect you to do it".

The New Yorker

People expect you to play better.

The New York Times - Sports

I expect you to be unbelievably committed.

The New York Times

People expect you to go tits up.

The Guardian - Sport

I expect you to die".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expected you to" when you want to express a prior belief or assumption about someone's action or behavior. Ensure the context clearly indicates who had the expectation and what was expected.

Common error

Avoid using "expected you to" when the expectation was unclear or uncommunicated. If the other person was unaware of your expectations, it can lead to miscommunication and resentment. Instead, ensure that expectations are clearly expressed beforehand.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expected you to" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to express a prior belief, assumption, or anticipation about someone's actions. As Ludwig examples show, it sets up a context where an individual's behavior is being assessed against a pre-existing expectation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "expected you to" is a versatile verb phrase used to express prior beliefs, assumptions, or anticipations about someone's actions. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and very common, especially in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates who held the expectation and what that expectation was. Alternatives like "assumed you would" or "thought you would" can provide nuanced variations in meaning. Avoiding the phrase when expectations were unclear or uncommunicated is crucial to prevent miscommunication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assumed you would

Focuses on a prior belief about someone's action.

thought you would

Indicates a belief or prediction about a person's behavior.

anticipated you would

Emphasizes foreseeing a particular action.

presumed you would

Implies taking something for granted without proof.

relied on you to

Highlights dependence on someone to perform an action.

counted on you to

Stresses trust and reliance on someone.

believed you would

Shows confidence in someone's ability or willingness.

took it for granted you would

Indicates an assumption made without question.

had faith you would

Emphasizes trust and certainty in someone's actions.

figured you would

Implies a casual assumption about someone's behavior.

FAQs

How do I use "expected you to" in a sentence?

Use "expected you to" to describe something you believed someone would do. For example: "I expected you to finish the report by yesterday".

What can I say instead of "expected you to"?

You can use alternatives like "assumed you would", "thought you would", or "anticipated you would" depending on the context.

Is "I had expected you to" grammatically correct?

Yes, "I had expected you to" is grammatically correct. It uses the past perfect tense, indicating that the expectation occurred before another point in the past.

What's the difference between "expected you to" and "wanted you to"?

"Expected you to" implies a belief or assumption, while "wanted you to" expresses a desire or preference. "I expected you to call" means I thought you would, while "I wanted you to call" means I wished you would.