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Wait, hope, or expect
Wait means letting time pass until something comes, hope means wanting something to happen, and expect means believing it will.
Quick rule
Time passing until it comes? Wait. Wanting it without knowing? Hope. Believing it will happen? Expect.
To stay until something comes or happens: wait for the bus. Before the thing you're waiting for, add for.
To want something to happen without knowing if it will: I hope you feel better.
To believe something will happen, or that someone will arrive: I expect rain, we're expecting guests.
How to choose
| Question | wait | hope | expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do you stay until something comes or happens? | Yes | No | No |
| Do you want it without knowing if it'll happen? | No | Yes | No |
| Do you believe it will happen? | No | No | Yes |
Why it trips people up
Wait, hope, and expect all look forward, but differently. Wait is about time passing until something comes, hope is about wanting it, and expect is about believing it will happen. You can expect something you do not hope for, like rain on your wedding day.
How each one works
Wait
Staying put
Wait here. I'll be right back.
Waiting for something: wait for
We waited for the bus for twenty minutes.
Being excited: can't wait
I can't wait to start my new job!
Hope
Wishing for something
I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow.
hope to + verb
We hope to visit Peru next year.
Answering: I hope so
Will she come? I hope so.
Expect
Believing something will arrive
I expect the package on Monday.
Expecting a baby
We're expecting a baby in May.
expect + person + to
I didn't expect you to win!
What comes next
wait for plus person or thing
I'm waiting for my sister.
wait plus to plus verb
We waited to hear the results.
hope (that) plus clause
I hope you like it.
hope plus to plus verb
She hopes to study medicine.
expect plus person plus to plus verb
My boss expects me to finish today.
expect plus thing
Don't expect a big party.
Set phrases
Wait
- wait up
- to stay awake until someone gets home; in the US, also a way to ask someone to slow down so you can catch up
Hope
- hope for the best
- to stay positive when you can't control the result
Expect
- be expecting
- to be pregnant
Almost the same
I'm waiting for the results.
Time passes until they come.
I'm hoping for good results.
You want them, but you don't know.
I'm expecting good results.
You believe they'll be good.
In a conversation
- A:
Are you waiting for someone?
- B:
Yes, my cousin. I was expecting her an hour ago.
- A:
Maybe she got stuck in traffic.
- B:
I hope nothing happened to her.
Common mistakes
Wrong: We're waiting a lot of people at the party.
Right: We're expecting a lot of people at the party.
To say you believe people will come, use expect. Wait is about time passing until they arrive.
Wrong: I expect you have a wonderful trip!
Right: I hope you have a wonderful trip!
Good wishes take hope. I expect sounds like a prediction, or even a demand.
Memory trick
Wait uses your feet: you stay put until it comes. Hope uses your heart: you want it. Expect uses your head: you figure it will happen.
It depends
- Expect as a demand
- Expect can also say what you require of someone: I expect you to be on time sounds like a rule, not a guess.
FAQ
Hope or expect: what is the difference?
Hope is wanting something you can't be sure of. Expect is believing it will happen. You can hope for things you don't expect, like winning the lottery.
Wait or expect?
Wait is about time passing: I waited an hour. Expect is about what you think will happen: I expect him at six. Cambridge notes that wait isn't used to say you believe something will happen.