Wish vs. Hope – English Grammar Exercises for B2
You are reading the inner thoughts and spoken words of someone celebrating their birthday on a video call with their partner, who lives in another country. The speaker is expressing deep loneliness, longing for an impossible present, and hoping for a better future. Choose the most appropriate option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence.
1 I am looking at your smile through this screen, but I deeply wish you ______ sitting right next to me on the sofa.
(A) are
(B) would be
(C) were
(D) to be
2 As I blow out my birthday candles alone in my room, I ______ that we can finally be together next year.
(A) hope
(B) wish
(C) am wish
(D) hoping
3 It’s almost midnight here, and my birthday is coming to an end. I really wish it ______ not so late so we could keep talking.
(A) would be
(B) is
(C) has been
(D) were
4 Your face is right there on my phone. I wish I ______ just reach out and touch your cheek in real life.
(A) would can
(B) could
(C) can
(D) am able to
5 You just showed me your booked flight ticket for next month! I ______ the next 30 days go by as quickly as possible.
(A) wish
(B) am hope
(C) hope
(D) to hope
6 You look absolutely exhausted from the 12-hour time difference. I wish you ______ to wake up early for work tomorrow.
(A) wouldn’t have
(B) didn’t have
(C) hadn’t
(D) don’t have
7 The video feed keeps freezing because of my terrible internet connection. I ______ the Wi-Fi signal gets better in a minute!
(A) am wishing
(B) hopes
(C) wish
(D) hope
8 I am eating this small piece of cake by myself. I wish we ______ dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant right now.
(A) are having
(B) would have
(C) were having
(D) had had
9 My friends are throwing a small party for me in the living room. I wish you ______ here right now to see the beautiful decorations.
(A) are
(B) would be
(C) were
(D) have been
10 This virtual date is very sweet and romantic, but I wish the physical distance between our two countries ______ so huge.
(A) wasn’t to be
(B) weren’t
(C) isn’t
(D) wouldn’t be
11 I just received the beautiful birthday package you sent through international mail! I ______ the jacket fits me perfectly.
(A) hope
(B) wishing
(C) wished
(D) wish
12 Looking at the high flight prices makes my heart sink. If only I ______ enough money in my savings to buy a plane ticket to you right this second.
(A) would have
(B) have
(C) had
(D) having
13 Even though we are 6,000 miles apart, I ______ you a very happy and productive day at the office today.
(A) am hope
(B) wish
(C) hope
(D) wishing
14 Seeing all those happy couples holding hands outside my window makes me feel so lonely. I wish my situation ______ different.
(A) has been
(B) would be
(C) were
(D) is
15 I know you have an incredibly busy schedule at your new company, but I ______ you can take a few days off when I visit you next spring.
(A) hope
(B) am wishing
(C) hoped
(D) wish
16 It’s pouring rain outside, which completely ruins my birthday mood. I wish it ______ so heavily right now.
(A) isn’t raining
(B) wouldn’t rain
(C) weren’t raining
(D) hasn’t rained
17 You always promise that you will move back home next year. I wish you ______ your bags to return to me right now, but I know it’s a complicated legal process.
(A) were packing
(B) are packing
(C) pack
(D) will pack
18 The secondary birthday gift you mentioned hasn’t arrived at my door yet. I hope the international post office ______ it.
(A) hasn’t lost
(B) didn’t lost
(C) hasn’t lose
(D) hadn’t lost
19 I feel so entirely disconnected from your daily life over there. I sometimes wish I ______ a bird so I could fly straight to your bedroom window.
(A) am
(B) could be
(C) were
(D) would be
20 I ______ I didn’t have to celebrate this milestone entirely alone, but I ______ we will definitely be together for the next one.
(A) hope / wish
(B) wish / hope
(C) hope / hope
(D) wish / wish
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) were
- Why it’s correct: “Wish + Past Simple” is used to express a desire for an unreal present situation. In formal/standard English (B2 and above), we use “were” for all subjects (I, he, she, it, you).
- Error Analysis: (B) would be is a Meaning Trap (used for future annoyance or behavior change, not present states). (A) is a Common Mistake (present tense). (D) is a Structural Error.
2 (A) hope
- Why it’s correct: Expressing a realistic possibility for the future (next year).
- Error Analysis: (B) wish is a Meaning Trap (implies the future event is impossible, which ruins the optimism). (C) is a Structural Error. (D) is a Common Mistake (missing auxiliary “am”).
3 (D) were
- Why it’s correct: Unreal present state. The reality is that it is late, and the speaker wishes for the opposite.
- Error Analysis: (A) would be is a Meaning Trap. (B) is a Common Mistake (present tense). (C) is a Structural Error.
4 (B) could
- Why it’s correct: “Wish + could” expresses a desire for a present ability that the speaker currently lacks.
- Error Analysis: (C) is a Common Mistake (using the present “can”). (A) is a Structural Error (“would can” does not exist; “would be able to” is required). (D) is a Common Mistake.
5 (C) hope
- Why it’s correct: The flight is booked, so the days passing is a real, future event. “Hope” is used for positive, realistic expectations.
- Error Analysis: (A) is a Meaning Trap. (B) is a Structural Error. (D) is a Structural Error.
6 (B) didn’t have
- Why it’s correct: Unreal present. The reality is the partner has to work. The opposite (unreal) state requires the past simple “didn’t have”.
- Error Analysis: (A) wouldn’t have is a Meaning Trap. (D) is a Common Mistake (present tense). (C) is a Structural Error.
7 (D) hope
- Why it’s correct: The Wi-Fi getting better is a real possibility that could happen in a minute.
- Error Analysis: (C) is a Meaning Trap (“Wish” would require the past tense “got better”). (B) is a Structural Error (wrong verb agreement for “I”). (A) is a Common Mistake.
8 (C) were having
- Why it’s correct: Unreal Present Continuous. The reality is they are not having dinner together right now.
- Error Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake (present continuous). (B) is a Meaning Trap. (D) is a Structural Error (past perfect is used for past regrets, not present actions).
9 (C) were
- Why it’s correct: Desire for the partner’s physical presence in the current moment (Unreal Present).
- Error Analysis: (B) would be is a Meaning Trap. (A) is a Common Mistake. (D) is a Structural Error.
10 (B) weren’t
- Why it’s correct: Unreal present state using “were” for the singular subject “distance”. The distance is huge; the speaker wishes it were not.
- Error Analysis: (C) is a Common Mistake (present tense). (D) wouldn’t be is a Meaning Trap. (A) is a Structural Error.
11 (A) hope
- Why it’s correct: A realistic desire about a current, unknown state (whether the jacket fits).
- Error Analysis: (D) wish is a Meaning Trap (it would mean the speaker already knows it doesn’t fit). (C) is a Common Mistake (past tense). (B) is a Structural Error.
12 (C) had
- Why it’s correct: “If only” follows the exact same grammatical rules as “Wish”. The speaker does not have the money now, so past simple “had” is used.
- Error Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake (present tense). (A) would have is a Meaning Trap. (D) is a Structural Error.
13 (B) wish
- Why it’s correct: Fixed expression: “Wish someone something” (e.g., wish you a happy birthday, wish you luck).
- Error Analysis: (C) hope is a Meaning Trap (you cannot say “I hope you a happy day”; you must say “I hope you have a happy day”). (A) is a Structural Error. (D) is a Common Mistake.
14 (C) were
- Why it’s correct: Unreal present. Wishing a current situation was completely different.
- Error Analysis: (B) would be is a Meaning Trap. (D) is a Common Mistake (present). (A) is a Structural Error.
15 (A) hope
- Why it’s correct: The visit next spring is a planned future event, and taking days off is a realistic possibility.
- Error Analysis: (D) wish is a Meaning Trap (makes the time off sound impossible). (B) is a Structural Error. (C) is a Common Mistake.
16 (C) weren’t raining
- Why it’s correct: Unreal present continuous. It is currently raining, and the speaker wishes for the exact opposite state.
- Error Analysis: (B) wouldn’t rain is a Meaning Trap (often used for future behavior, but for an ongoing weather state right now, past continuous is preferred). (A) is a Common Mistake. (D) is a Structural Error.
17 (A) were packing
- Why it’s correct: Unreal present continuous. The speaker wishes an action was happening right now, even though it isn’t.
- Error Analysis: (D) will pack is a Meaning Trap (cannot use ‘will’ after ‘wish’). (B) is a Common Mistake (present continuous). (C) is a Structural Error.
18 (A) hasn’t lost
- Why it’s correct: Hope + Present Perfect (or Present Simple). The speaker doesn’t know the outcome yet, but hopes for a positive reality.
- Error Analysis: (D) hadn’t lost is a Meaning Trap (past perfect is used with ‘wish’ for known regrets). (B) is a Structural Error (“didn’t lose”). (C) is a Structural Error.
19 (C) were
- Why it’s correct: The ultimate Unreal Present statement. The speaker is entirely wishing for a scientifically impossible reality (being a bird). “Were” is heavily emphasized here.
- Error Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake. (B) could be is a Meaning Trap. (D) is a Structural Error.
20 (B) wish / hope
- Why it’s correct: First blank: “Wish” because they do have to celebrate alone (Unreal Present). Second blank: “Hope” because being together next year is a realistic future goal.
- Error Analysis: (A), (C), and (D) fail to recognize the grammatical and contextual difference between the impossible present and the possible future.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Wish + Past Simple (Unreal Present): Used to express a deep desire for the present reality to be completely different. You are feeling sad or frustrated about a fact you cannot change right now.
- Formula: Subject + wish + (that) + Subject + V2/ed.
- Context applied: “I wish you were here.” (Meaning: You are NOT here, and it makes me sad).
- The “Were” Rule: In formal English (especially at the B2/C1 level and in testing environments), you must use “were” instead of “was” for ALL subjects (I, he, she, it) after “wish” or “if only”. This highlights that the situation is entirely hypothetical (giả định).
- Example: “I wish it were not so late.”
- Hope + Present/Future (Realistic Optimism): Used when you want something to happen in the future, and there is a real, logical chance that it will happen.
- Context applied: “I hope we can be together next year.” (Meaning: I don’t control the future, but it is a very possible and positive outcome).
- Wish someone something: Remember this fixed structural difference. You can “wish someone a happy birthday,” but you CANNOT “hope someone a happy birthday.” If you use “hope,” you must use a full clause: “I hope you have a happy birthday.”