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In this short vocabulary lesson, Vanessa helps English learners choose between “hope” and “wish” when talking about the future and the past. She begins with a student's sentence about applying for a scholarship: “I wish that I will get the scholarship.” The meaning is understandable, but the verb does not fit the time relationship. The learner is still waiting for a result, so Vanessa recommends “I hope that I will get the scholarship.”
The central pattern is straightforward: use hope for something that may still happen, and use wish with a past form to talk about a past situation that cannot now be changed. Vanessa illustrates hope with examples about tomorrow's weather and a friend liking a present. In each case, the event has not happened yet, so the speaker is expressing a desired possibility. The phrase “hasn't happened yet” is useful for clarifying that the outcome remains in the future.
To explain wish, Vanessa imagines someone who had the opportunity to study abroad but chose a different path. They can say, “I wish that I had studied abroad when I was in school.” The past perfect form points back to a finished opportunity. She gives another regret: a cake is unfinished just before a party, so the speaker says, “I wish that I had done it earlier.” The lesson contrasts regret about a completed past with hope about an open future.
There is one expression that sounds like an exception: “best wishes.” Vanessa explains that it is a conventional way to send someone good thoughts for a future birthday, trip, or other occasion. Learners can use it in a card or email even though the future is involved. The phrase works as a fixed expression; it does not change the basic grammar distinction she is teaching.
At the end, Vanessa asks viewers to write two original sentences, one with hope and one with wish. A useful way to practise is to identify whether the event is still possible or already over before choosing the verb form. For example: “I hope I get the job” describes a pending result, while “I wish I had applied earlier” looks back at a finished opportunity. The lesson also includes a brief e-book promotion after the teaching section.
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Select an expression for its meaning · 0:00
Vanessa introduces the difference through a student's sentence about a scholarship.
Hi, I'm Vanessa from Speak English with Vanessa. How should you use hope or wish? Let's talk about it. One of my students recently told me some good news. He said that he had to study in the US. When he told me, he said, “I wish that I will get the scholarship.”
Try it: What is the student waiting to hear about?
Phrase cheat sheet
Review each expression, hear it, save it, or jump to where it appears in the video.
Vanessa introduces the difference through a student's sentence about a scholarship. · expression
Submitted an application to receive money or support for a course of study.
Tone and use: Neutral, common in education and work contexts. Use apply for + an opportunity, position, grant, or scholarship.
May not fit: Apply to names the institution: apply to a university; apply for names what you want.
Example“She applied for a scholarship to help pay for college.”
She explains that the student's meaning is clear but the verb should match a possible future event. · expression
Events that are possible but have not happened yet.
Tone and use: Neutral explanation of a possibility. Use might happen to describe a possible future outcome, not a certainty.
May not fit: Do not use might when you mean the event is guaranteed.
Example“We might get snow this weekend.”
Hope is used for the scholarship result, weather, and a friend's reaction to a present. · expression
I want to receive the scholarship, and the decision is still pending.
Tone and use: Neutral and natural; expresses a desired possibility. Use hope + present or future wording for a result that may still happen.
May not fit: Use wish with a past form for an unreal or regretted past situation, not this pending result.
Example“I hope that I will hear back from the university soon.”
Hope is used for the scholarship result, weather, and a friend's reaction to a present. · expression
Has not happened up to now, though it may happen later.
Tone and use: Neutral and conversational. Use present perfect + yet to say an expected or possible event is still outstanding.
May not fit: Yet is generally placed at the end in this negative pattern.
Example“The package hasn't arrived yet.”
Wish looks back at an opportunity to study abroad that has already passed. · expression
I regret not studying in another country when I had the chance.
Tone and use: Reflective; expresses regret about a past choice or situation. Use wish + past perfect to imagine a different past.
May not fit: Do not use this structure for a future plan; say I hope to study abroad.
Example“I wish that I had studied abroad when I was in college.”
Wish looks back at an opportunity to study abroad that has already passed. · expression
Rather than studying in another country; it introduces the alternative choice.
Tone and use: Neutral comparison. Use instead of + noun or -ing form to contrast choices.
May not fit: Keep the verb after instead of in the -ing form when it names an action.
Example“He worked part-time instead of studying abroad.”
A cake is not ready before a party, leading to a regret about not starting earlier. · expression
Going to begin very soon.
Tone and use: Neutral and common in everyday speech. Use be about to + base verb for something expected to happen almost immediately.
May not fit: It describes the near future, not a general plan for much later.
Example“The meeting is about to start, so let's take our seats.”
A cake is not ready before a party, leading to a regret about not starting earlier. · expression
I regret not completing the task sooner.
Tone and use: Reflective, often mildly regretful. Use wish + past perfect to talk about a past action you would change.
May not fit: For a current need or future plan, state it directly instead of using this regret form.
Example“I wish that I had booked the tickets earlier.”
She explains the fixed expression best wishes for cards, birthdays, and trips. · expression
A conventional way to send someone kind thoughts or good luck.
Tone and use: Warm and polite; common in cards and email sign-offs. Use it to congratulate someone or wish them well before an event or trip.
May not fit: This is a fixed expression; it does not mean that wish + future tense is the general grammar pattern.
Example“Best wishes for your new job!”
Vanessa restates the main distinction with paired future and past examples. · expression
When speaking about what is usually or broadly true.
Tone and use: Neutral, slightly formal but common in speech. Use it to introduce a broad rule before giving examples or exceptions.
May not fit: Avoid it when you are describing only one specific case.
Example“In general, I take the train to work.”
She asks learners to write original examples and practise the contrast themselves. · expression
Original examples that practise both target words in context.
Tone and use: Direct but encouraging instruction. Use using + noun to explain what language or tool an example includes.
May not fit: The phrase names a practice task; it is not itself a complete sentence.
Example“Write two sentences using the new expressions from class.”
Knowledge check
Use it in a sentence · “I hope that I will get the scholarship”