Is anything wrong with 'waiting for the bus'?

English as a Second Language English Teacher Explanations (ESL Tests)
1

English Grammar Error, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #18 [color=blue]“Prepositions and Phrasal Verbs”, question 5

I am waiting the bus to arrive any minute providing the timetable is correct.

(a) waiting
(b) arrive
(c) providing

English Grammar Error, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #18 [color=blue]“Prepositions and Phrasal Verbs”, answer 5

I am expecting the bus to arrive any minute providing the timetable is correct.

Correct entry: expecting
The error was: (a) waiting

You have [color=green]found the error but your entry is [color=red]incorrect.
I am waiting for the bus to arrive any minute providing the timetable is correct.
[size=200]_________________________[/size]

Hi

Could you explain, why I can’t use ‘waiting for’ instead of ‘waiting’ in this sentence?

Is anything wrong with waiting for the bus?

2

Hi Tamra,

The fact that I have added

at the end of the sentence suggests the better use of expect because the speaker is, as it were, in anticipation of the arrival of the bus because that’s what it says on the timetable.

Alan

3

Hi Alan,

Thank you for your answer, now I see the difference between waiting for and expecting. And better understand, why expecting a baby is ‘more right’ :slight_smile:

I only want to point that the test is from Prepositions and Phrasal Verbs group, where waiting for seems to be more natural, whereas ‘expecting’ is a bit tricky. :slight_smile: