Espero...?

Hola Karin,

If I want to say "I hope to have news from you"...
Why is "Espero que tenga noticias tuyas" wrong?
I thought "Espero" as subjunctive and required "que".

Gracias,

Beverly

---

Dear Beberly,

The RAE's Diccionario panhispánico de dudas says that, when "Espero" means "I hope it happens", it's a transitive verb and it is followed by an infinitive or a statement introduced by "que".

You use "Espero que" + subjunctive, when you're talking about something you wish for someone else^[1], something you expect from someone else to do^[2], or something that you wish to happen^[3] (but you're not responsible for it to happen).

¹ e.g. "Espero que te recuperes pronto"
I hope you get well soon
--> Who will -hopefully- get well soon?

² e.g. "Espero que mi mamá me de permiso de ir"
I hope my mom lets me go
--> Who will -hopefully- let you go? Mom

³ e.g. "Espero que llueva"
(I hope it rains)

You use "Espero + infinitive" when you're talking about something you must do by yourself^[4], or when the verb is refering to you, even if someone else is responsible for it.<sup>[5]

4</sup> e.g. "Espero aprender español pronto"
I hope to learn Spanish soon
--> Who will -hopefully- learn Spanish soon? I.

⁵ e.g. --> "Espero tener noticias tuyas pronto"*.
I hope to have news from you.
--> Who will -hopefully- have news from you? I.

*Note that if your wish is for someone else, the statement is fine.
e.g. "Espero que (él/ella) tenga noticias tuyas pronto".

Does that makes sense? I hope it does.

Have a nice day,

- Karin