What is the difference between hope and wish?
As you are learning English, you’ll probably come across pairs of words like these which have similar meanings. In this English lesson, let’s take a look at the difference between hope and wish.
We use hope when something is possible or likely to happen:
- I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.
- I hope the train is on time.
- I hope I can see you when I visit Tokyo.
We use wish when something is not possible or not likely to happen.
- I wish I were taller!
- I wish you didn’t live so far away.
- I wish I could fly.
How about you? What do you hope? What do you wish? Leave a comment below and let us know!
Keep in mind the best way to remember this or any vocabulary in English is to take the word or phrase write it in a sentence that’s true for you or true in your world and then memorize your sentences.
You can even take your sentences and write them in the comments below. I would love to see your examples. And if you really want help with vocabulary, sign up for my free vocabulary workshop (see below).
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I'm Michael, your human English teacher from New York and I’ve been teaching English learners around the world since 1994.
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