Grammar · Commonly Confused Words
Hope vs Wish
Two words for wanting something: one for what can happen, one for what is not true. Learn the difference with the film Big Fish.
Grammar › Commonly Confused Words › Hope vs Wish
The rule in one sentenceUse hope for things that can really happen, and wish for things that are not true now, with the next verb moved one step into the past.
About the film
Big Fish is a film from 2003 by Tim Burton. Edward Bloom loves telling amazing stories about his life, like the day he caught a giant fish. His son Will is tired of these tall tales, and he wishes his father would tell the simple truth. When Edward becomes very ill, Will travels home and hopes they can finally talk.
What does it do?
Both words are about wanting something. The difference is simple: can it really happen, or not?
Use hope when something is possible. Maybe it will happen, maybe not, but there is a real chance. Use wish when something is not true now, or is very unlikely. Wishes often carry a little sadness.
Look at the second tile. Will doesn’t know the real story, so it is not true now. That is why we say wishes he knew, not wishes he knows. After wish, the verb moves back into the past, even when we are talking about now.
You will hear both I wish I was and I wish I were. “Were” is a little more formal, but both are fine in everyday English.
Will hopes to learn the truth. He wishes he understood his father better.
Learning the truth is possible, so it is a hope. Understanding his father is not true now, so it is a wish.
Visual guide
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How to make it
hope — a real chance
Will hopes his father feels better soon.
Josephine hopes Will doesn’t get angry.
Put the “not” in the second part, not after “hope”.Do you hope to visit your family soon?
Ask with do or does, as normal.wish — not true now
Will wishes he knew the truth.
Will wishes his father didn’t tell so many stories.
Use didn’t for “not” after wish.Do you ever wish you could fly?
After wish, can becomes could.When to use each one
hope — it can happen
wish — it isn’t true
Words that help: possible or not true?
Some small words and phrases travel with one word, not the other.
hope → it can happen
wish → it isn’t true
Common mistakes
❌ I wish my dad gets better soon.
✅ I hope my dad gets better soon.
It can really happen, so use “hope”.
❌ Will hopes he knew the truth.
✅ Will wishes he knew the truth.
“Knew” shows it is not true now, so use “wish”.
❌ I wish I can speak French.
✅ I wish I could speak French.
After “wish”, “can” becomes “could”.
❌ “Will you come to the party?” “I wish so!”
✅ “Will you come to the party?” “I hope so!”
We say “I hope so”. “I wish so” is not English.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
Wishes about the past use “had”. When you are sorry about something that already happened, use wish + had + a past form. You cannot change it now.
✅ Will wishes he had called his father more often. (he didn’t call much)
✅ I wish I hadn’t eaten so much cake! (but I did)
Practice: choose the right word
Eight questions. Choose one answer. You get the answer, and why.
1. I ___ you have a good flight, Will.
A good trip is possible → hope.
2. Will ___ he knew the real story.
“Knew” shows it is not true now → wishes.
3. I wish I ___ speak French.
After “wish”, “can” becomes “could”.
4. “Is it going to rain tomorrow?” “I hope ___.”
The short answer is “I hope not”.
5. Sandra ___ Will comes home soon.
It can really happen → hopes.
6. Will wishes his father ___ stop telling stories.
After “wish”, “will” becomes “would”.
7. Edward wishes he ___ young again.
He is not young now → wish + past → was.
8. We ___ you enjoy the film!
A kind word about something possible → hope.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!
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