Hope and Wish

 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.)

Wish is most commonly used in hypothetical (or imagined) situations:

I wish that I had a dog. (I don't really have a dog, but if I did, I would be happy.)
I wish (that) you were here. (Unfortunately, you're not, and I miss you.)

Sometimes wish is used in greeting and expressions of goodwill:

We wish you a "Merry Christmas." They wished him "Happy Birthday." Wish me luck.

                                                                                Hope

Hope can also be used in expressions of goodwill, but the grammar is slightly different:

I hope (that) you have a Merry Christmas. I hope (that) you had a nice Birthday.

(some time in the future) (some time in the past)

Hope can be used to specify a desired outcome. For future hopes, the possibilities remain open, but for past hopes, the outcome has usually been determined already.

I hope you can come to the party on Saturday. I was hoping that you would come to the party. I had hoped to see you at the party on Saturday. I hope to get an A on the exam. I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow. He hopes to be elected President. She hoped you wouldn't find her.

(future possibility) (but you didn't make it) (but I didn't) (it is still possible) (although it might) (it could happen) (but you probably did)

We use the verb hope when something is very possible.

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.)

Wish and hope are also used in certain types of requests and pleasantries. In such situations, wish carries a more definite and formal tone.

EXAMPLES:

I hope you had a good time at the party last night.
I haven’t looked outside yet. I hope it’s not raining.
I hope you have a great day.
I hope you’re not going to go to the movie without me.
I hope my boss will give me a promotion this year.
I hope my boss gives me a promotion this year.














The last two examples are about the future. In English, we can use the future tense or the present tense after the word “hope” to talk about the future. Both are natural.
On the other hand, “wish” is used to talk about situations that we desire, but which are the opposite of the current reality or which are impossible. We can use wish + past tense to talk about our situation right now. Even though we use the past tense, we are NOT talking about the past. For example:
I wish I had a car. (In reality, I don’t have a car now, but I want one).
I wish I didn’t have to work tomorrow. (In reality, I have to work tomorrow, but I don’t want to).
I wish I were tall. (In reality, I’m short, but I want to be tall).
I wish I could play the piano. (In reality, I can’t play the piano, but I want to).


When we use wish + past perfect tense, we are talking about regrets we have from the past. For example:
I wish I hadn’t gone to the party. (In reality, I went to the party, and now I regret it).
I wish I had studied harder in school. (In reality, I didn’t study hard in school, and now I regret it).
I wish I hadn’t gotten drunk in front of my boss. (In reality, I got drunk in front of my boss, and now I regret it).
I wish I had gone to bed earlier last night. (In reality, I didn’t go to bed early last night, and now I regret it).


We can use wish + would + verb to talk about situations that often happen in our lives that we don’t like. For example:
I wish my husband would help me clean the house. (In reality, my husband never helps me clean the house, and I don’t like it).
I wish my children wouldn’t play their music so loudly. (In reality, my children play their music very loudly, and I don’t like it).


We can also use wish + noun to talk about things that we desire for other people. In these cases, the meaning of “wish” is more similar to “hope”. This way of using “wish”, however, is much less common that the other ways. For example:
We wish you a merry Christmas. (The meaning is: We hope you have a merry Christmas).
Wish me luck on my exam. (The meaning is: Please hope that I have good luck on my exam).
I wish you health and happiness. (The meaning is: I hope you have health and happiness).

 

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.