Auxiliary
Verbs- Hope/Wish
These two verbs are
similar in meaning, but are different in their grammatical usage. The verb hope
indicates that something possibly happened or will possibly happen. The verb
wish indicates that something definitely did not happen or definitely will not happen.
Also, the verb hope can be followed by any verb tense, while the verb wish must
NEVER be followed by a present tense verb or auxiliary verb. Study the
following sentences.
I hope that I
will arrive on time.
(I don’t know if I
will arrive on time.)
I wish that I
could arrive on time.
(I am not going to
arrive on time.)
We hope that
no one died
in the storm.
(We don’t know if
anyone died in the storm.)
We wish that
no one had died in
the storm.
(Someone did die in
the storm.)
Keep in mind that wish is very similar to a
contrary to fact or unreal condition.
Present unreal condition and wish:
If I were
famous, I would help the poor.
I wish I were
famous.
(In both sentences,
I am not famous.)
Past unreal condition and wish:
If they had arrived earlier, they
would have gone with us.
I wish they had arrived earlier.
(In both sentences,
they didn’t arrive early.)
Study the following
formulas for using wish in past, present and future conditions.
NOTE: The word that
can be added or omitted. The sentence is correct either way.
Past Wish [subject + wish + (that) + past perfect could have + verb in
past participle]
I wish that I
had eaten earlier.
(I didn’t eat
earlier.)
Prashant wishes that
he could have played in the championship game.
(He couldn’t play in
the game.)
We wish that
we had more
opportunities to advance in the competition.
(We didn’t have more
opportunities.)
Present Wish [subject + wish + (that) + subject + simple past tense]
Sushant wishes that
he had
the money to go on the trip.
(He doesn’t have the
money.)
I wish that I
were qualified enough to be an
astronaut.
(I am not qualified
enough.)
We wish that
we didn’t have to take the exam today.
(We have to take the
exam.)
Future Wish [subject + wish + (that) + subject +could + verb/would + verb/were
+ verb]
I wish that
you could go to
Italy with me this summer.
(You can’t go to
Italy this summer.)
Ramesh wishes that
his sister would write his essay for him.
(She won’t write his
essay for him.)
The farmer wishes that
his crops were producing more.
(They are not
producing more.)
Exercise: Using Wish
/ Hope
Fill in the blank
with the correct form of the verb in parentheses in the following sentences.
Some sentences could have more than one option.
1. Neha wishes that
John _________________________ (go) with her to the prom next weekend.
2. I hope that my
plane ________________________ (crash; negative)!
3. The defeated
warriors wish they _________________________ (won) the battle.
4. We wish that Prashant ______________________ (play) in the championship game last night.
5. Sushant hopes that
his grandparents ____________________ (come) to his graduation.
6. Ekta wishes
that she _____________________ (have) enough time to visit her cousin.
7. The government
wishes that it _____________________ (do) more to help the economy.
8. I wish that Ankita ________________________ (arrive) on time.
9. They hope that
the movie _______________________ (start; negative) yet.
10. The boy wishes
that his sister ________________________ (feel) better tomorrow.
Answers:-
Answers of Exercise: Using Hope/Wish (Auxiliary Verbs Part-3 (Hope/Wish)- English Grammar Rules & Exercise)
1. Neha wishes that John __would go__ with her to the prom next weekend.
2. I hope that my plane __doesn’t crash__ !
3. The defeated warriors wish they __had won__ the battle.
4. We wish that Prashant __would/could have played__ in the championship game last night.
5. Sushant hopes that his grandparents __can/will come__ to his graduation.
6. Ekta wishes that she __would/could have had__ enough time to visit her cousin.
7. The government wishes that it __could do/could have done__ more to help the economy.
8. I wish that Ankita __would/could arrive__ on time.
9. They hope that the movie __hasn’t started__ yet.
10. The boy wishes that his sister __will/would feel__ better tomorrow.
Answers of Exercise: Using Hope/Wish (Auxiliary Verbs Part-3 (Hope/Wish)- English Grammar Rules & Exercise)
1. Neha wishes that John __would go__ with her to the prom next weekend.
2. I hope that my plane __doesn’t crash__ !
3. The defeated warriors wish they __had won__ the battle.
4. We wish that Prashant __would/could have played__ in the championship game last night.
5. Sushant hopes that his grandparents __can/will come__ to his graduation.
6. Ekta wishes that she __would/could have had__ enough time to visit her cousin.
7. The government wishes that it __could do/could have done__ more to help the economy.
8. I wish that Ankita __would/could arrive__ on time.
9. They hope that the movie __hasn’t started__ yet.
10. The boy wishes that his sister __will/would feel__ better tomorrow.
