 Confusing words in English, wish and hope. The word wish is used for hypothetical or imagined situations when you want something in the present or past to be different. When you are wishing a present situation was different, use wish plus the simple past. For example, I live near the beach, but I wish I lived near the mountains. I'm very busy. I wish I didn't have to work so much. Both of these are present situations that we wish were different. When you are wishing a past situation was different, use wish and the past perfect. For example, I didn't go to college. I wish I had gone when I had the chance. I had a fight with my friend. I wish I hadn't said she was stupid. Both of these situations are in the past and we are wishing they were different. The word hope is used when you want a specific result and there is or was a real possibility of getting that result. If you are hoping for a result in the future, use hope plus the present tense or hope plus will. I bought my girlfriend a present. I hope she likes it or I hope she'll like it. These sentences are equal. You can use the present tense or will. Here's another example. The festival is next Saturday. I hope it doesn't rain. Or, I hope it won't rain. Won't is the negative form of will. You can also use the word hope in the past continuous or past perfect when you wanted a result but that result didn't happen. For example, I was hoping my girlfriend would like the present I bought but she hated it. You can also say I had hoped my girlfriend would like the present I bought but she hated it. You can also use the past perfect continuous. I had been hoping. All three of these sentences are equal. Let's review. Use wish when you are imagining that a situation is or was different. Use hope when there is or was a real possibility of getting the result you want. Thanks for watching English Tips from Espresso English. If you liked this video, please share it.