Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Teo]

1. I anticipated his coming.

2. I expected him to come.
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[cgage2]

I don't know what your question is but I assume you want to know the difference. They mean about the same, except that anticipate can have a connotation of tension. "Expected" just implies that something was supposed to happen.

[Teo]

A Chinese teacher of English said that #1 implies that he did come but #2 does not. Do you agree?
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[Lorikeet]

No.

"I expected him to come, but he didn't." would fit her idea

"Were you surprised that he came to the party?" "No, I expected him to come." wouldn't.

So it depends on the context.

[Teo]

I anticipated his coming, but he didn't.

Is the above sentence acceptable?
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[CP]

No, because it is not parallel. Try: I expected him to come, but he didn't. I expected his coming, but I was disappointed.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[Teo]

I anticipated his coming, but it turned out that he couldn't come.

Is the above sentence acceptable?
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Thank you very much for your reply.