Commonly Mistaken Words: Expect, Hope and Wait

Commonly Mistaken Words: Expect, Hope and Wait

Hi English learners. Welcome to a new lesson. Teachers at My Lingua Academy are happy to help you improve your English. In today’s lesson, we will discuss the use of commonly mistaken words expect, hope and wait.

What is the difference between expect, hope and wait? Let’s find out!

How to use EXPECT

We use expect to say that we think that something will happen (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/learner-english/expect). It is used in the following patterns:

Expect + object

• They are expecting a reward for finding the lost dog.
• They always expect honesty from their employees. 
• We can expect rain in the afternoon hours.

Expect + infinitive

• Simon expects to get a promotion.
• What do you expect to happen?
• I didn’t expect to see you here.

Expect + object + to-infinitive

• I am expecting Carla to call me.
• You can’t expect others to do your job.
• I expect to see you at the weekend.

Expect + that clause.

•  We all expect that the new year will be better than the previous one.
• Celia expects that the prices of real estate will go up.
• I expect that the weather will be nice so we can go on a trip.

Commonly Mistaken Words: Expect, Hope and Wait

We use the verb expect to talk about predictions:

• I expect to pass the test. I’ve been studying hard.
• Analysts expect the world population will reach 8.5 billion in 2030.
• We expect to get used to living in France in a year.

We use expect to say that something is probably true.

• “Is it going to rain?” “I don’t expect so.”
• “What happened to the garden?” “It was the neighbour’s dog, I expect.”
• I expect they’ll be late.

How to Use HOPE

We use hope to say that we want something to happen or be true (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/learner-english/hope)

Here are some common patterns with the verb hope:

Hope for 

• The citizens were hoping for a peaceful settlement of the dispute.
• Rob hoped for his job application to be accepted.
• You shouldn’t lose hope for a better future.

Hope + to-infinitive

• I hope to see you next week.
• Fiona hopes to start college next year.
• Travis has never been to London, but he’s hoping to visit it next summer.

Hope + that clause

• They were hoping that the pilot would see them in the sea.
• He stopped hoping that they would come.
• The children were hoping that their father would change his mind about going to the Zoo.

Commonly Mistaken Words: Expect, Hope and Wait

We use the verb hope to say that we intend to do something.

• We are hoping to move to Australia next year.
• They hope to develop their company.
• I hope to find a better job soon.

You can learn about the difference between wish and hope here. 

Expect vs Hope

Expect refers to something that will probably happen while hope refers to something we wish to happen.

• I expect them to arrive soon. (they will probably arrive soon)
• I hope they will arrive soon. (I wish they arrived soon)
• They expected to win the trophy. (They will probably receive it because they played well.)
• They hoped to win the trophy. (refers to their wish)

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How to use WAIT

Wait means to stay in a place until someone or something arrives or someone or something is ready for you. (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/learner-english/wait)

We can use the verb wait in the following patterns:

Wait for

• What are you waiting for?
• She told me she was going to wait for you.
• Will you please wait for me in the lobby?

Wait + to-infinitive

• When I last saw her she was waiting to get on the bus.
• They were sitting outside, waiting to talk to the interviewer.
• The children were ready, waiting to leave for school.

Commonly Mistaken Words: Expect, Hope and Wait

Expect vs Wait

When we say that we expect something, we mean that we think that it is likely to happen while waiting refers to staying somewhere until something happens.

• We are expecting his arrival (he is most probably coming)
• We are waiting for his arrival (we are staying in a place until he arrives)