English Grammar: Wish vs. Hope (Review & Exercises) - English Current (2024)

The Verb Wish to Describe aPresent Desire

Form: subject + wish + (that) + noun +past simple / past progressive

• I wish (that) I had more money now. (this describes a desirethe present)
• She wishes (that) she were taller.
• He wishes (that) he didn't have to work today.
• They wish (that) they could come.
• I wish (that) it wasn't raining.

The verb wish used this way is the same as the present unreal conditional (second conditional).All of these sentences describe and unreal/imaginary situation that someone wants.

• John doesn't have a car. He's sad. = He wishes he had a car.
• I don't have enough time :( = I wish I had more time.
• Her leg is broken. She's sad. = She wishes her leg weren't broken.

Even though the grammar is in the past tense (I wish I had more money), the meaning is in the present. Any wish can also be expressed in the second (present unreal) conditional.

• John wishes he had a car. = If John had a car, he would be happy.
• I wish I had more time. = If I had more time, I would be happy.
• She wishes her leg weren't broken. = If her leg were not broken, she would be happy.

Grammar note:Just like in the second conditional, we don't use was. Instead of saying, "I wish I was taller," it is more correct (grammatically) to say "I wish Iwere taller." These sentences, in the second conditional, would be "If I were taller, I would be happy." The idea is the same. We generally don't usewas.

Remember, when we use wish, we always wantfor the opposite of the real situation now. Because of this, the verb changes from positive to negative, or negative to positive. Let me showyou.

My dog is sick. :(

1. The verb =is
2. Verb inthe past = waswere
3. Change to negative = weren't
4. The whole sentence = I wish my dogweren't sick.

I can't swim. :(

1. The verb = can't swim
2. Verb in past = couldn't swim
3. Change to positive = could swim
4. The whole sentence = I wish I could swim.

I'm gaining weight. :(

1. The verb =am gaining (present progressive)
2. Verb in past = waswere gaining (past progressive)
3. Change to negative=weren't gaining
4. The whole sentence = I wish I weren't gaining weight.

It's not that hard, is it? Let's try some exercises.

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.

The Verb Wish + Wouldto Describe aPresent Desire

I've just told you that we use a past tense verb(past simple or past progressive) after wish. However, we use the helping verbwould when we wish that someone else would do an action.

• I wish you would listen. (It's my wish, but I wantyou to do the action.)
• She wishes her husband wouldn'tleave the toilet seat up. (It's her wish, but she's wishing someone else do the action.)
• I wish the managerwould do something. (Again, the wish is directed at someone else.)

We only usewould when the verb is an action verb, not a state verb (for help with this, see this lesson). In short, action verbs are verbs like 'kick/run/open/stop' that havean action (we move our bodies). Non-actionverbs (stative or linking) are verbs like 'have/be/know/understand' that describe a situation (or state), not an action. Hereat some examples.

My friend John doesn't have a job. He is poor. :(

Possible wishes:

• I wishhe weren't poor. (BE = state verb, so we don't add would)
• I wish he had a job. (HAVE = state verb, so we don't add would).
• I wish he would find a job. (Find = action verb, so we add would.)
• I wish he would look for a job. (Look = an action verb, so we add would.)

This is difficult, isn't it? Remember, these are all wishes that the subjectwishessomeone elsedo. Let's look at another example.

My dog Pepe is a bad dog. :(

• I wish he weren't bad. (BE = state verb)
• I wish he wouldn't chew on my shoes. (Chew = action)
• I wish he would listen. (Listen = action)

Do you see the difference? Let's try some exercises.

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.

Using Wish to Describe aPastRegret or Mistake

We can also use wish to talk aboutmistakes or regrets in the past.

Form: subject + wish + (that) + noun +past perfect*

(*Past perfect = had + past participle)

• I didn't study enough when I was young. I wish I had studied more.
• I didn't bring an umbrella. I wish I had brought an umbrella.
• She said something impolite. She wishes she hadn't said it.
• My friend forgot my birthday. I wish he hadn't forgotten.

The grammar for wishes in the past is the same as the past unreal conditional (third conditional). Again, when we wish, we are wishing for the opposite of reality. The verb describes the opposite of the situation.

Fact: I broke the dish. :(

1. Verb = broke
2. Verb in past perfect = had broken
3. Change from positive to negative = hadn't broken
4. Full sentence = I wish I hadn't broken the dish.

Fact: She didn't tell me about the party. :(

1. Verb = didn't tell
2. Verb in past perfect = hadn't told
3. Change from negative to positive = had told
4. Full sentence = I wish she had told me.

That's it for the past. Fortunately, we don't usewouldwhen we talk about past wishes. So it's pretty easy.

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.

The Verb Hope to Describe a Future Desire

Form: Subject + [ hope ] + (that) + [ present tense ]

• I have a test tomorrow. I hope (that) I pass.
• John is looking for a job. Hehopes (that) he gets a job soon.
• It's cloudy. I hope (that) it does not rain.
• The movie starts soon. I hope (that) it is interesting.

All of these examples talk about something that we want to happen in the future (tomorrow, soon).

With the verb hope, we use the present simple tenseeven though we are talking about the future. However, some English speakerswill use a future tense (which maynot be good grammar), but is acceptable.

• I hope I pass = I hope I will pass.
• He hopes he gets a job = He hopes he will get a job.
• I hope it does not rain = I hope it won't rain.

These sentences are allacceptable, even though they don't follow the traditional rules of grammar. For the exercises below, please use a present tense, however.

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.

Hope with a Past Action

Hope is sometimes used with past actions. For example:

• "Thanks for coming my party last night. I hope that you had a good time."
• Karen had to rush to the airport. I hope (that) she remembered her passport.

In these sentences, hope has the same meaning it normally does: it describes a desire.Note the differences between hope in the past and wish in the past:

• I hope that you had a good time. (Meaning = You went to the party, and I desire that you had a good time (it's what I want))
• I wish that you had had a good time. (Meaning = You went to the party, but did not have a good time. You regret this.)

• I hope that she remembered her passport. (Meaning = You desire that she remembered her passport.)
• I wish she had remembered her passport. (Meaning = She forgot her passport. You regret this.)

In summary, wish in the past expresses a regret about an action. Hope in the past, like hope in the future, describes a desire/want.

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.

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 mobile phones. I (wish/hope) they (not/do) that. It's rude.
4. Bobby has a lot of work to do, but he (wish/hope) that he (can/finish) by 5 p.m..
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.