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In Chinese, the same word is used for both hope and wish. In English, hope is used for things that have a real possibility of happening. This is expressed with a present or future tense or an infinitive. We use wish to express regret that something is not as we would like it to be.




I wish you will visit me again.
I hope you will visit me again.
I hope I could give you a more expensive gift.
I wish I could give you a more expensive gift.


1. Hope is similar to a type 1 conditional and is followed by a clause in the present or future tense e.g.
I hope you enjoy your birthday.
I hope you will work hard.
I hope you would work hard.


2. Wish is similar to a Type 2 or type 3 conditional and is followed by a clause with a verb in the past tense or the conditional.
I wish I could get a first class degree.
I wish I will get a first class degree.
I wish I hadn’t missed so many lectures.


3. Wish can be followed by an object pronoun in the sense of hoping somebody will have or attain something good.
Wish +someone + something
e.g. I wish you a safe journey.

Wish or hope?
Select the correct verb in the space provided.
  1. I hope Check you impress the interview panel tomorrow.
  2. I hope Check they offer you a high salary.
  3. I wish Check you had a more conscientious attitude.
  4. We hope Check our son has a successful future.
  5. I wish Checkyou were more like your mother.
  6. We wish Check we had a more generous budget for the renovations.
  7. I hope CheckI never see that man again.
  8. I wish CheckI had not lost my temper with the client.
  9. We wish Check our pupils a safe journey and a memorable homestay.
  10. I hope Check you will never forget me.

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