WISH
- to wish a situation in the present or past is not real, knowing it can’t change because it’s impossible
past wish: wish + past perfect
I wish I had bought him a present for his birthday. (because I didn’t buy him a present for his birthday)
present wish: wish + past simple
I wish I were wealthier. (because I am not wealthy)
I wish I knew how to explain this to you. (because I don’t know how to explain this to you)
- to express irritation with other people
wish + would + bare infinitive
I wish you would listen to me more.
They wish she would be more careful with her words.
Compare:
present wish:
I wish you would listen to me more.
(I think you can, but you don’t, so please do.)
past wish:
I wish you listened to me more.
(You don’t and I don’t think you ever will.)
Note: A first-person ‘I’ isn’t normally used in this form of wish because we can control our actions, so saying “I wish I would stop procrastinating.” means I want to stop procrastinating, and I think I can, so why don’t I?’
In contrast, when it comes to an illness or addiction, saying “I wish I would stop binge-watching series.” means ‘I don’t want to watch anymore, but I can’t stop because I’m hooked.’
- to send good wishes
wish + object 1 (pronoun) + object 2 (noun)
We wish you safe travels.
I wish you all the best.
I wish you luck with your married life.
HOPE
- to wish for the future
I hope you will talk to your mother about this.
She hopes to be married before she turns 40.
- to signal future intentions
I was hoping to get him something for his birthday and would have done so, if I hadn’t gotten sick last weekend.
Note: Normally, hope isn’t followed with ‘that’ unless there is another subject.
Her parents hoped (that) Haley would learn how to play the cello, but she had always wanted to play the violin.
I hope (that) you won’t find this offensive, but this soup is a little bland.
They were running late for their flight and hoped (that) traffic would not be that bad on their way to the airport.