| 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. To say what you hope about the present, you use the present: I
hope he's all right. 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 she comes to see us when she passes
through New York. 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). 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.) 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.) To say what you wish about the future, you use would: I
wish Clinton would do more to help the poor. (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) If one hopes for something, you want
it to happen, but you're not sure that it will and you
can do nothing about it. Now wishing is
usually wanting something that is impossible, or
that doesn't seem probable, or for being sorry that
things are not different.I wish I were rich. |