Lesson 49 hope / wish
Choose the correct answers:
Facts: It has been snowing since last night, and I have to drive to school half an hour later.
- I _______________ (hope, wish) it were not snowing.
- I _______________ (hope, wish) it had not snowed at all last night.
- I _______________ (hope, wish) the snow will stop before I leave home.
Explain:
The verb “hope” expresses a desire for something that is possible. The clause after “hope” uses a present or future tense verb.
The verb “wish” expresses a desire to change a real situation to an unreal, imagined, or wishful one. The desire is not possible to become a reality. The clause after “wish” does not use a present or future tense verb. Instead, a simple past verb is used to show a desire opposite to the present reality, and a past perfect verb is used to show a desire opposite to the past reality.
hope + (optional “that”) + subject + verb in present or future tense
wish + (optional “that”) + subject + verb in simple past or past perfect
- In Sentence #1, the desire cannot come true because it is opposite to the current reality: It is snowing now. Therefore, “wish” is the correct answer. The verb in the clause is in the simple past tense.
- In Sentence #2, the desire cannot come true because it is opposite to the past reality: I snowed last night. Therefore, “wish” is the correct answer. The verb in the clause uses the past perfect tense.
- In Sentence #3, it is possible for the desire to come true: It is possible that the snow will stop. Therefore, “hope” is the correct answer. The verb in the clause is in the future tense.
Review:
Fact: Carl does not have a car.
- Carl _______________ (hopes, wishes) that he had a car.
- He _______________ (hopes, wishes) that he can buy one in a few years. He has been saving money for it.
- He _______________ (hopes, wishes) that he had bought a car last year.
Answers:
wish; wish; hope
wishes; hopes; wishes
