Wish vs. Hope – English Grammar Exercises for B2
Read the conversation between two friends at a coffee shop. They are regretting their disastrous trip to Da Lat last week and expressing their expectations for an upcoming trip to Phu Quoc next month. Choose the most appropriate option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence.
1 I am still coughing from walking in that freezing rain in Da Lat. I really wish we ______ our heavy waterproof jackets.
(A) brought
(B) would bring
(C) had brought
(D) have brought
2 For our trip to Phu Quoc next month, I sincerely hope the weather ______ warm and sunny every single day.
(A) is
(B) were
(C) had been
(D) would be
3 The hotel in Da Lat was an absolute nightmare with no hot water. I wish I ______ those terrible online reviews before booking it.
(A) read
(B) had read
(C) should have read
(D) have read
4 I found a beautiful 5-star resort in Phu Quoc. I hope they ______ us a room with a direct ocean view.
(A) gave
(B) giving
(C) give
(D) had given
5 We spent three whole days trapped in our room in Da Lat. I wish the tropical storm ______ so early in the season.
(A) didn’t hit
(B) wouldn’t hit
(C) hasn’t hit
(D) hadn’t hit
6 We are flying with a completely different airline this time. I hope our flight to Phu Quoc ______ delayed for six hours like last time.
(A) isn’t
(B) won’t to be
(C) weren’t
(D) hadn’t been
7 We both got food poisoning from that random street vendor. I wish we ______ dinner at the hotel restaurant instead.
(A) had eaten
(B) ate
(C) would eat
(D) have eaten
8 Phu Quoc is famous for its vibrant night markets. I hope we ______ some amazing fresh seafood while we are there.
(A) found
(B) find
(C) to find
(D) had found
9 I completely ruined my favorite white sneakers in the Da Lat mud. I wish I ______ my hiking boots.
(A) wear
(B) wore
(C) had worn
(D) would wear
10 We have a packed, exciting itinerary for the island. I hope we ______ enough time to go scuba diving at the coral reefs.
(A) having
(B) had
(C) have
(D) had had
11 The taxi driver scammed us and overcharged us at the airport. I wish we ______ a private shuttle bus in advance.
(A) booked
(B) have booked
(C) would have booked
(D) had booked
12 I sent the resort a special email because it’s your birthday next week. I hope they ______ something romantic for our arrival.
(A) prepare
(B) prepared
(C) to prepare
(D) had prepared
13 We missed the beautiful sunrise at the lake because we overslept. I wish my phone alarm ______ off at 5:00 AM as planned.
(A) went
(B) had gone
(C) would go
(D) has gone
14 The water in Phu Quoc is supposed to be crystal clear in April. I hope it ______ perfect for our underwater photography.
(A) is
(B) was
(C) were
(D) had been
15 We argued a lot because we were tired and stressed. I really wish I ______ my temper when we got lost in the pine forest.
(A) didn’t lose
(B) haven’t lost
(C) wouldn’t lose
(D) hadn’t lost
16 I packed three different swimsuits for this beach vacation. I hope the resort’s infinity pool ______ as big as it looks in the promotional photos.
(A) is
(B) will
(C) were
(D) had been
17 Looking at these dark, blurry photos from Da Lat makes me so sad. I wish I ______ my professional camera at home.
(A) didn’t leave
(B) hadn’t left
(C) haven’t left
(D) wouldn’t leave
18 We are renting a motorbike to explore the southern tip of the island. I hope it ______ down in the middle of nowhere.
(A) didn’t break
(B) doesn’t break
(C) hadn’t broken
(D) wasn’t breaking
19 That whole Da Lat trip was a stressful, costly disaster. I wish we ______ all that money for this upcoming Phu Quoc vacation instead.
(A) saved
(B) have saved
(C) had saved
(D) would save
20 We really need a mental break after such a terrible experience. I hope this Phu Quoc trip ______ exactly what we need to relax and recharge.
(A) had been
(B) is
(C) to be
(D) were
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) had brought
- Why it’s correct: “Wish + Past Perfect” is used to express deep regret about an event that did not happen in the past (not bringing waterproof jackets).
- Error Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake (using Past Simple for past regrets). (B) is a Meaning Trap (used for future complaints/annoyances). (D) is a Structural Error.
2 (A) is
- Why it’s correct: “Hope + Present Simple” is used to express an expectation about a highly possible future event (sunny weather next month).
- Error Analysis: (D) is a Meaning Trap (“would” pairs with wish, not hope). (B) is the wrong tense (used for an unreal present wish). (C) is a Structural Error.
3 (B) had read
- Why it’s correct: Expressing ultimate regret over a past mistake (booking the hotel without reading reviews).
- Error Analysis: (C) is a Meaning Trap (“Should have read” is correct in meaning but grammatically invalid directly after “wish”). (A) is a Common Mistake. (D) is a Structural Error.
4 (C) give
- Why it’s correct: A realistic expectation for the upcoming trip.
- Error Analysis: (D) is a Meaning Trap (past perfect is for past regrets). (A) is a Common Mistake (using past tense). (B) is a Structural Error.
5 (D) hadn’t hit
- Why it’s correct: Wish + Past Perfect (negative form) for a disaster that already occurred in the past (the storm hitting early).
- Error Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake (Past simple). (B) is a Meaning Trap. (C) is a Structural Error.
6 (A) isn’t
- Why it’s correct: Hoping that a negative event will NOT happen in the future (Hope + Present Simple Negative).
- Error Analysis: (C) is a Meaning Trap (confused with the subjunctive ‘were’ of ‘wish’). (B) is a Structural Error (“won’t to be”). (D) is the wrong tense.
7 (A) had eaten
- Why it’s correct: Regret over eating street food instead of at the hotel in the past.
- Error Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake. (C) is a Meaning Trap. (D) is a Structural Error.
8 (B) find
- Why it’s correct: Future expectation (finding amazing seafood).
- Error Analysis: (C) is a Structural Error (missing a subject if you want to use ‘to V’, though ‘hope to find’ is valid, ‘we to find’ is not). (A) is a Common Mistake. (D) is a Meaning Trap.
9 (C) had worn
- Why it’s correct: Regret over not wearing hiking boots during the muddy Da Lat trip.
- Error Analysis: (A) and (B) are Common Mistakes (using present or past simple). (D) is a Meaning Trap.
10 (C) have
- Why it’s correct: Expectation of having enough time on the future trip.
- Error Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake. (A) is a Structural Error. (D) is a Meaning Trap.
11 (D) had booked
- Why it’s correct: Regret for not booking a private car in the past.
- Error Analysis: (C) is a Meaning Trap (“would have booked” is used in Type 3 Conditionals, not directly after “wish”). (A) is a Common Mistake. (B) is a Structural Error.
12 (A) prepare
- Why it’s correct: Hoping the hotel prepares a surprise for next week.
- Error Analysis: (C) is a Structural Error. (B) is a Common Mistake. (D) is a Meaning Trap.
13 (B) had gone
- Why it’s correct: Regret that the alarm didn’t go off in the past.
- Error Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake. (C) is a Meaning Trap. (D) is a Structural Error.
14 (A) is
- Why it’s correct: Expectation that the water will be clear in April.
- Error Analysis: (C) is a Meaning Trap (“were” is for unreal wishes). (B) is a Common Mistake. (D) is a Structural Error.
15 (D) hadn’t lost
- Why it’s correct: Blaming oneself for losing one’s temper in the past.
- Error Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake. (C) is a Meaning Trap. (B) is a Structural Error.
16 (A) is
- Why it’s correct: Expecting the hotel pool to be as beautiful as advertised.
- Error Analysis: (C) is a Meaning Trap. (B) is a Structural Error (missing “be”). (D) is the wrong tense.
17 (B) hadn’t left
- Why it’s correct: Nuối tiếc (Regret) for leaving the camera at home during the previous trip.
- Error Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake. (D) is a Meaning Trap. (C) is a Structural Error.
18 (B) doesn’t break
- Why it’s correct: Hoping the motorbike won’t break down on the upcoming trip.
- Error Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake. (C) is a Meaning Trap. (D) is a Structural Error.
19 (C) had saved
- Why it’s correct: Regret for wasting money in Da Lat instead of saving it for the future trip.
- Error Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake. (D) is a Meaning Trap. (B) is a Structural Error.
20 (B) is
- Why it’s correct: Final thought, hoping the Phu Quoc trip will be exactly what they need to relax.
- Error Analysis: (D) is a Meaning Trap (makes it sound like an impossible wish). (A) is the wrong tense. (C) is a Structural Error.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Wish + Past Perfect (Had + Past Participle): For Past Regrets.
- Function: Used to express deep regret or sorrow about something that already happened, and you are completely powerless to go back in time and change it.
- Context: Recalling a terrible trip, failing an exam, or missing a flight.
- Example: “I wish I had read the reviews.” (Reality: I didn’t read them, and the hotel was terrible).
- Hope + Present Simple / Future Simple: For Future Optimism.
- Function: Used when you expect or want something good to happen in the present or future. This event has a high probability of becoming reality, and you are maintaining a positive mindset.
- Context: Planning an upcoming trip, waiting for exam results, or hoping for good weather.
- Example: “I hope the weather is sunny.” (Reality: Tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet, and sunny weather is entirely possible).
- Exam Tip: * If the context contains past time markers (last week, yesterday, missed, ruined, was) and the main verb is “Wish” → Immediately choose Past Perfect (Had + V3).
- If the context contains future time markers (next month, tomorrow, upcoming) and the main verb is “Hope” → Immediately choose Present Simple or Future Simple. Never choose “would” or “were” right after “Hope”!