Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Rae]

Dear Tutor:
I'd like to ask a queston about the differences between wish and hope.
Although I can get the answers from my dictionary, I always can't remember it.
Best wishes,
Rae Huang

[pinenut]

You use 'wish' when you want an unreal situation to be real in the present or past.

I wish you were here.
I wish you had been here.
I wished you were here.

It is not possible that you are or were here, but I imagine it is (was) possible.

You use 'hope' when you want something will be true in the future.
Since something in the future has not taken place, you don't know if it will be real or not.

I hope you will get well soon.
I hope you pass the examnination.
You can also use the present tense in 'that' clause.