Hope
and Wish
We use the verb hope when something is very possible.
We use the verb wish about impossible things or things that are not likely to
happen (things that you don't really expect to happen.)
Hope
To
say what you hope about the past,
you use the simple past:
I hope she found the
restaurant.
I hope he passed his class
last semester.
To
say what you hope about the present,
you use the present:
I hope he's all right.
I hope he knows where the
clinic is.
I hope he's having a good
time in Florida.
I hope he likes Italian
food.
To
say what you hope about the future,
you use the present (or the future,
although it is less common):
I hope he has a good time
in Florida next month.
(I hope he'll have a good time in
Florida next month.)
I hope she comes to see us
when she passes through New York.
(I hope she'll come to see us when
she passes through New York.)
Wish
To
say what you wish about the past,
you use the past perfect:
I wish I had passed my ESL
class last semester! (You didn't pass.)
I wish she had given me her
phone number. (She didn't give it to you.)
To
say what you wish about the present,
you use the past:
I wish I had a good job.
(You have a bad job now.)
I wish I had a million
dollars. (You don't have a lot of money.)
I wish I knew how to speak
Japanese. (You can't speak it.)
I wish I could type. (You
can't type.)
I wish I were a good
dancer. (You're a bad dancer.)
I wish she were nicer to
me. (She's not nice to you.)
(Note!
We use were for all subjects when we
use wish.)
To
say what you wish about the future,
you use would:
I wish Clinton would do
more to help the poor.
I wish you would quit
smoking soon.
(Note!
If you think there is a chance that something can happen, use hope, not wish: To say, "I hope
Clinton does something about
healthcare soon" means that you think there is a strong possibility that
he will.)
Hope
and Wish (Rick Shur, page 2 of 2)
Exercises Use wish or hope and an
appropriate verb:
1.
I wish I ______________________ a bigger house. I can’t
have a party for a big crowd here.
2.
I hope she _____________________ a good job soon. She’s
three months behind in her rent.
3.
I wish he _____________________________. Those
cigarettes have given him a terrible cough!
4.
I wish you ___________________________ at the party with
me last night. It was so much fun!
5.
I hope she ____________________________ the stadium
tonight with that map we drew for her.
6.
I wish the teacher _______________________ things more
clearly. I’m always confused in this class.
7.
I wish I ____________________ some well-connected people
who could help me with my problem.
8.
I wish politicians _______________________ more honest!
It seems that they’re always lying.
9.
I wish I ___________________________ the Pope when he
came to New York two years ago.
10. I
hope I ______________________________ the Pope when he comes here next month.
11. I
hope everything ___________________________ well for you during your final exam
next week.
12. I
hope everybody ______________________________ this course next month.
13. I
wish there ____________________________ more books about computers in this
bookstore.
14. I
hope there _________________________ a lot of good books on computers at the
bookstore.
15. I
hope he _____________________________ better soon. He's been out sick for two
weeks!
16. I
wish doctors ___________________________ cure cancer. It’s such a frightening
disease!
17. I
wish my grandfather _________________________________ last year. There are so
many things going on in my life that I wish I could talk to him about.
18. I
hope Margaret ____________________ the present that we bought for her.
19. I
wish Sam ________________________ sex with that girl. He got her into trouble
and now his life is a mess.
20. I
wish I _______________________ Chinese.
It’s impossible to go shopping here in Beijing.
