HOPING AND WISHING

The verbs hope and wish are used very differently in English because they imply very different degrees of possibility.

We HOPE for things or events that are POSSIBLE or LIKELY TO HAPPEN if we do whatever is necessary to make them happen or the right circumstances exist. Study these sentences based on"Why the Baby Says Goo." Pay close attention to verb tense after present tense "hopes" and past tense "hoped." The tenses within the sentence are CONSISTENT.

The old woman hopes that the chief will visit her wigwam and meet Wasis. (a real future possibility)

The old woman hopes that the chief realizes there is one more powerful than he. (a real possibility now or in the extended present time.)

The old woman hoped that the chief would learn a lesson from the baby. She hoped he would become less arrogant. (a real possibility in the past)

Learn this rule: When the verb hope is in the present tense, the verb in the following noun clause may be present or future tense because we hope for things that are or will be possible at a present or future time. When the verb hoped is in the past tense, the verb in the noun clause is also past tense . Follow the sequence of tense rule: present tense is followed by present or future; past tense is followed by past tense.

We WISH for things or events that are NOT PROBABLE. In other words, they are UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN. Study these sentences from "The Little Daughter of the Snow." Pay close attention to verb tense in the noun clause after wish. Read across the table.

The expression of a wish for	an UNREAL or UNLIKELY situation	THE REALITY
An old man and his wife wish	they could have a child.	But they can't.
The old man and his wife wish	the snow girl would stay with them.	But she won't.
The old man and his wife wish	they hadn't tricked the fox.	But they did.
The old man and his wife wish	they had been more generous.	But they weren't.