Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[khk]

Hi eveyone!
Which word between hope and wish is approprite for the following sentence when I really want someone should pass the test? and why?

'I wish/hope you pass the test.'

And when we say say or write to somebody 'good luck' then do we mean 'I wish you good luck' or 'I hope you good luck'?

Thanks in advance
KHK

[CP]

I hope you pass the test, and I wish you good luck. I wish I knew why, but I don't. I hope that doesn't disappoint you. And I hope someone else will have a better answer.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[erik19283]

I believe that people use "wish" when it is about something they do not believe will or can happen. Then, people use "hope" when they believe there is a possibility for something to happen.

So, saying, "I wish you passed the test." would be like telling that person you would like him/her to pass the test but you don't really believe that it is possible. You want this to happen, but you think it is unlikely to happen.

On the other hand, saying, "I hope you pass the test." would be like you believe it is possible for that person to pass the test, but you are not sure if he/she will actually pass it.

Then, when you "wish someone good luck", the meaning is a little different. In that case, you are saing that you hope someone will be happy, lucky, successful, .... You don't wish for them to do something.

Does it make it any clearer to you?

Also, if anyone thinks I am wrong, please correct me.

[khk]

I wish I could respond earlier but I just couldn't. Sorry for being so late to get back to the issue. Anyway, I hope I will respond ASAP from now onward. Yes, the meaning is much clearer now from both these answers, except that ' Erik wrote " wish someone good luck" although he mentioned the meaning differently. My question is why then we don't just say 'hope you good luck' instead of saying 'wish you good luck', as we really mean someone to be happy, lucky, successful...?
Thanks in advance.

[CP]

I wish you good luck in this footrace (I want you to have good luck). I hope you win (I believe you might and I would prefer it if you do), and I hope you don't fall like last time (I think you can stay on your feet and I prefer it if you do).

I can say, "I hope your luck holds out," but I would not say, "I hope you good luck." The idiom is, "I wish you [good] luck."
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb