Wish versus Hope

In this class, we will learn about the verbs “wish” and “hope”. It’s very
common for these words to be used incorrectly, so we’ll see in which situations we
use each one of them.

An example of a common mistake is when someone says something like “I

wish I pass my test.”. It actually sounds good, but it’s the wrong way to say it.
Wish and Hope have very similar meanings, so it’s really easy to get mistaken.

Both words are used to express our desire for something different from how it
is now, but hope mainly expresses a desire that is possible or likely to happen. Wish
usually expresses a desire that is impossible or unlikely to happen.

Let’s take a look in the examples on the following pages and try to understand
the main difference between them.
 The Basics : Hope

• Hope is the desire of something good or positive in the future that are possible
or likely to happen.
• Hope is often used to talk about future events, situations, or actions. For a
future meaning, it is paired with simple present tense.

*NOTE* - Sentences with hope and wish are usually followed by a noun clause
starting with “that”. In English, we often don’t use “that” from noun clauses,
especially in informal speaking and writing.

• Examples:
- I hope (that) my team wins the game. (I believe it is possible)
- I hope (that) we see each other again. (Likely to happen in the future)
- I hope (that) I pass my test. (I’ve studied, so it’s likely to happen)
• “Hope” can also be used to talk about something that recently happened and will
be decided in the future. In this case, it is paired with the simple past tense.
• Example:
- I hope (that) you passed your test. (After the test, but before you know the
result.)
- I hope (that) I got the job. (After the job interview, but before you know the
result.)
• Remember that “hope” expresses something that the speaker believes is possible.
The sentence below means that I want to improve my English, and I think it is
possible.
• Example:
- I hope I can improve my English.
 The Basics : Wish

• Wish is to desire something that is impossible or not likely to happen. Usually

describes the present or the past.

• “Wish” can be paired with a simple past verb in order to express an unreal
present desire.

• Examples:
- I wish (that) I had more money now. (this describes a desire in the present)
- I wish I had a bigger house.
- I wish I didn’t have a big test tomorrow.
- I wish I could learn English faster.
- I wish I was taller.

• One reason this verb can be confusing is the special expression, “I wish you
noun.” This means “I want noun for you.” It is the only time you can use
“wish” for something real.

• Examples:
- I wish you the best.
- I wish you peace and happiness for the rest of your life.
• In the phrase “I wish I could improve my English.”, expresses something that the
speaker believes is not possible right now.

• “Wish” can also be paired with a past perfect verb in order to express regret:
• Example:
- I wish (that) I hadn’t said (I said something stupid, and now I regret it.)
- I wish (that) I had studied harder for the test. (I didn’t study for the test, and
now I regret it.)

Was or Were?

Traditional grammar dictates we should always use were and never was, even
when the subject is I, he, she, a singular count noun, or a non-count noun.
BUT, nowadays, many native speakers ignore this rule, it is becoming less popular
these days to do so. Whether this is because it’s becoming a fossilized mistake
or because English is evolving away from the formality is an argument for
another day!

Wish and Hope Exercises

A. Wishes in the Present

1. John is poor. John wishes he _______________ (be/not) poor.

2. My apartment is small. I wish it _______________ (be) bigger.

3. She hates her job. She wishes she _______________ (have) a different one.

4. I can’t sing. I wish I _______________ (can/sing).

5. I have to get up early for my job. I wish I _______________ (not/have to)

get up early.

6. It’s raining now. I wish it _______________ (not/rain).

7. I’m so tired. I wish I _______________ (sleep) now instead of working.

8. The students have a lot of homework. They wish they _______________

(not/have) homework.

B. Wishes + Would

1. My neighbour plays loud music. I wish he _______________ (turn) his music

down. I’ve asked him to do so, but he won’t listen. I wish he _______________
(listen).

2. Also, his dog barks all night. I wish the dog _______________ (not/bark) so
much. I wish my neighbour _______________ (have) a pet fish, not a dog.

3. Yesterday, someone parked in my parking space. I wish people

_______________ (not/park) in my spot. There’s even a sign that says,
“Reserved Parking”. I wish people _______________ (read) the sign.

4. It’s expensive and troublesome to have a car in the city. Sometimes I wish I
_______________ (not/have) a car. However, public transit is not very
convenient here. I wish the government _______________ (build) more subway
lines.
5. English grammar is difficult sometimes. I wish it _______________ (be)
easier.

C. Wishes in the Past

1. I didn’t wake up on time. I wish I _______________ (wake) up on time.

2. Lisa arrived late. She wishes she _______________ (arrive) earlier.

3. He forgot to bring his passport. He wishes he _______________ (bring) it.

4. I painted my room black, but it looks terrible. I wish I _______________

(not/paint) it black.

5. There was too much salt in the soup. I wish the chef _______________ (use)
less salt.

6. She told me the ending of the movie, so now I don’t want to see it. I wish I
_______________ (not/speak) to her.

D. Hope

1. I hope there _______________ (be) never a war again.

2. Tim hopes that he _______________ (get) a bicycle for Christmas.

3. I hope that it _______________ (not/rain) tonight.

4. Jenny hopes she _______________ (not/fail) her exam.

5. I hope I _______________ (see) you at the party tonight.

E. Hope or Wish? Write the Correct Verb

1. John failed his test. He _______________ he had studied more. He

_______________ he passes his next one.

2. My apartment is small. I _______________ I had a bigger apartment. I

_______________ I didn’t live here.

3. Ryan has a soccer game tomorrow. He _______________ his team wins. The
game might be cancelled though, if it rains. He _______________ it doesn’t
rain.

4. Tina doesn’t like Donald Trump. She _______________ he had not won the
election. She _______________ that he doesn’t destroy the world.

F. Add the Correct Verb and Clause

1. Tina is single. She doesn’t have a boyfriend, but she wants one. In other words,
Tina _______________ (wish/hope) she _______________ (have)
boyfriend.

2. My sister bought a suitcase last week. But when she took it on her travels, it
broke. She regrets buying it. In other words, she _______________ (wish/hope)
she _______________ (not/buy) it.

3. My friends are always looking at their phones. I _______________

(wish/hope) they _______________ (not/do) that.
4. Bobby is excited for Christmas. He _______________ (wish/hope) that his
parents _______________ (buy) him a laptop.

5. Yesterday, John asked his co-worker if she was pregnant. She got angry at him,
because she wasn’t. John _______________ (wish/hope) that he
_______________ (not/say) that.

6. I have an important speech to give tomorrow. I _______________

(hope/wish) that I _______________ (not/forget) everything I plan to say.